function createRequestObject() {

   var req;

   if(window.XMLHttpRequest){
      // Firefox, Safari, Opera...
      req = new XMLHttpRequest();
   } else if(window.ActiveXObject) {
      // Internet Explorer 5+
      req = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
   } else {
      // There is an error creating the object,
      // just as an old browser is being used.
      alert('Problem creating the XMLHttpRequest object');
   }

   return req;

}

// Make the XMLHttpRequest object
var http = createRequestObject();

function sendRequest(act) {

   // Open PHP script for requests
   http.open('get', 'citas.php?variable='+Math.random()*9999);
   http.onreadystatechange = handleResponse;
   http.send(null);

}

function handleResponse() {

   if(http.readyState == 4 && http.status == 200){

      // Text returned FROM the PHP script
      var response = http.responseText;

      if(response) {
         // UPDATE ajaxTest content
         document.getElementById("randqotd").innerHTML = response;
      }

   }

}