12% of U.S., 21% of Foreign Condoms Fail Test, CDC Says

Twelve percent of U.S.-made condoms and 21% of foreign-made ones failed in recent testing, according to federal researchers.

Prophylactics have been widely advocated as a means of slowing the spread of the AIDS virus.

As of February, the Centers for Disease Control reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had tested samples from 430 batches of condoms--165 batches manufactured in America and 265 manufactured abroad.

The FDA reported previously that as many as one in five batches of latex condoms it tested failed to meet federal standards. The FDA rejects a batch of condoms if more than four per 1,000 fail in water-leakage tests. If two or more batches from a foreign manufacturer fail, future shipments from that manufacturer are stopped at their port of entry into the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control in its report on condoms and sexually transmitted diseases stressed that condoms can help prevent such diseases but that they do not always work.

“Individuals likely to become infected or known to be infected with (AIDS) should be aware that condom use cannot completely eliminate the risk of transmission,” the Atlanta-based agency said.

Lab tests have shown that latex condoms are effective barriers to the spread of AIDS, hepatitis B, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, breakage or other mishaps during use can negate their disease-fighting effectiveness.