The public has known that Magic Johnson has tested positive for HIV for many years. Having the disease halted his basketball career at a much earlier age than would have been the case if he never caught it. He has recently endorsed the take-home HIV test, OraQuick, which was created by Orasure Technologies and is the first ever FDA-approved take-home HIV test available for the general public.
Magic knows that the disease has greatly affected black and Latino communities for a long time, and that many people are against getting tested because they feel as though getting a positive result is embarrassing for them within their community.
"When you think about the black and brown community, the stigma behind HIV and AIDS in our community ... [not wanting] anybody to see us walk into a clinic or to the doctor's office, this kit will help. That's the people who I was thinking about most when I thought about this kit," Magic stated.
The OraQuick kit is available online and at retail pharmacies such as CVS. It includes the use of a mouth swab which will detect HIV antibodies within 20 minutes.
Source: hiphopwired.com
