A saliva test to detect HIV has been found to be as effective in diagnosing the disease as the current blood tests used in high-risk populations.

After comparing studies worldwide, the team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre concluded the OraQuick HIV1/2 test had the same accuracy as the blood test.

It is hoped the findings could lead to new self-testing methods that would overcome issues with stigma attached to HIV testing at public clinics.

Dr Nitika Pant Pai, a medical scientist at the RI-MUHC and assistant professor of Medicine at McGill University, described HIV testing as being the "cornerstone of prevention, treatment and care strategies" for the disease.

"Although previous studies have shown that the oral fluid-based OraQuick HIV1/2 test has great promise, ours is the first to evaluate its potential at a global level," she added.

The results from the study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, show the saliva test is 99 per cent accurate in high-risk populations. Although it is less effective in low-risk groups, it still presents 97 per cent accuracy.

The oral test is both non-invasive and pain free, and produces results in just 20 minutes.

Dr Pant Pai said there is currently huge demand for at-home, self testing for HIV, however such testing in high-risk populations must be backed up with strong care programmes after diagnosis.

"Getting people to show up for HIV testing at public clinics has been difficult because of visibility, stigma, lack of privacy and discrimination. A confidential testing option such as self-testing could bring an end to the stigmatization associated with HIV testing," she explained.

Last year, researchers uncovered a molecular compound while looking for therapies for hepatitis C that could act as a topical preventative for HIV.

PD 404,182 effectively dissolves the virus on contact, by breaking the virus open and exposing its RNA, which is unstable and is removed quickly, rendering the virus non-infectious, Zhilei Chen, assistant professor in Texas A&M's Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, explained.