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Lew Grade waved his huge cigar and declared himself at 88 a very satisfied man

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Lew Grade waved his huge cigar and declared himself, at 88, "a very satisfied man". The entertainment baron who has always done things his way had just announced he was rejoining the International Television Corporation entertainment group he fou nded in1954. He lost control of ITC, which has had a historic importance in the British film and TV business, in 1982 during a fierce clash with the now deceased Australian businessman Robert Holmes a Court. Now, Lord Grade told guests at his annual lunch at the Hyde Park hotel in London, he would be rejoining as chairman for life. Similarly a negative test may not have detected a recently acquired HIV infection.Ruth Parry, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, an Aids charity, said the saliva test could encourage some organisations into pressing the test on people.A medically qualified person has to take an HIV blood test because it essentially involves a surgical procedure, whereas anyone with the minimum experience can technically take the saliva test..

It has by law to be explained to people undergoing an HIV test that a positive result should not be relied upon unless confirmed by at least one other type of test. Government scientists are currently evaluating the diagnostic kit which the pharmaceutical firm, Incstar, in Wokingham, Berkshire, claims is almost as accurate as the more elaborate blood test for HIV.

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The £4 saliva test went on sale in Britain this month and insurance companies are among a variety of organisations that are keen to exploit it as an alternative to blood tests, which need a laboratory and can take a day or more for a result.Les Tyrer, Incstar's product manager, said saliva contains about a thousandth of the quantity of HIV antibodies as blood, enough for the new test to detect with an accuracy greater than 98 per cent.The test works by patients chewing on a swab which is pressed to extract the liquid. "On the other hand, you have to consider what we can do to stop a person who is determined to contravene all ethical and moral obligations ... We should be looking at some form of compensation scheme so they can come forward and acknowledge they are positive and withdraw from practice.". An Aids test that takes eight minutes and uses saliva rather than blood will result in more people being tested for HIV, the company selling the test said yesterday, writes Steve Connor. But no cases of HIV transmission have come to light.One well publicised case of a Florida dentist who died in 1991 continues to be clouded by controversy. Six people claimed they had been infected but there has never been conclusive proof.The risk of transmission is low and needs blood to blood or body fluid contact in a sufficient dose to transfer infection.

Even then, there are many variable factors including the immune state of the recipient and the level of infectivity of the "donor"John Hunt, chief executive of the British Dental Association, called for a compensation scheme to help health workers admit they are infected. It was felt, however, that the authorities "owed it" to patients to warn them."At this stage we do not know whether any patient will be found to be HIV positive as a result of this exercise, but any who are will be offered professional advice and counselling."Worldwide, 22,000 patients have been followed up after being treated by 63 HIV positive health care workers, including 33 dentists. He said it was a "very difficult decision" and he was aware the letters would cause "anxiety and distress". An additional freephone line, 0800 374 135, has been set up for any other patient who is anxious.At the time of Mr Advani's death there was media publicity, and about 1,100 people telephoned a helpline Many callers were anonymous. There will be some overlap in the patients who telephoned in 1993 and those who received letters yesterday.John James, chief executive of the Kensington health authority, said at a briefing yesterday: "To date there is no recorded case anywhere in the UK of the virus having been transmitted to a patient from a health worker. Because of the time lapse, officials have had to trace patients through 60 local health districts in England.In the letters, each patient has been given a personal telephone number to one of four centres set up to offer advice, counselling and HIV tests.