Knowing your HIV status is the first step in seeking medical intervention and gaining access to effective strategies to prevent the spread of HIV.
Common Questions About HIV Testing & Counseling
Where can I get tested for HIV
Can I keep my
test results private
 | Anonymous HIV testing |
| Confidential HIV testing |
What
if I test positive for HIV
Where can I get information about treatment
When and how often should I be tested for HIV
How long does it take to get results
How accurate are HIV test results
How do I interpret HIV test results
What are the benefits of counseling
Why does the CDC recommend that all pregnant women be tested for HIV
If I test
HIV-negative, does that mean that my partner is also HIV- negative
Why should I be tested for HIV
Typically the length of time between HIV infection and the development
of symptoms is
lengthy -- sometimes ten years or more. Knowing your HIV status has two
vital benefits.
First, if you know you are HIV infected, you can be evaluated for treatment
even before
symptoms appear. Second, if you know you are infected, you can take all
necessary
precautions to prevent the spread of HIV to others.
Where can I get tested for HIV
Common testing locations include Arkansas
Health Departments, hospitals, private doctors,
family planning or sexually transmitted disease clinics, mobile sites,
drug treatment facilities, and sites specifically dedicated to HIV testing like South
Arkansas Fights AIDS . Seek testing
at a place that also provides HIV/AIDS counseling about the meaning
of the test results, ways
to protect yourself and others and the AIDS-related
resources available in your area.
Can I keep my test results private
Two types of testing are available:
Anonymous HIV testing means that no name is given to the testing center. Instead, the person tested is given a unique identifier code. The person tested is the only one who is made aware of the test results. Anonymous testing is available in many states.
At-home "collection kits" are also available. Each comes with a unique identification number. You do not give your name. Kits can be purchased over the counter or by mail. Home tests are generally quite accurate. However, you would not have the benefit of in-person counseling.
Confidential HIV testing, also
called names reporting, records the person's name.
Confidentiality laws and regulations protect the information. Medical personnel
and, in some
states, the state health department will have access to your test results.
Also, if you choose
to sign a release form to have your personal physician notified, the information
will become a
part of your medical record. It may be seen by health care workers, insurers
or employers.
Your status may become known if you make a claim for health insurance benefits
or apply
for life insurance or disability insurance. Confidential testing is available
in all states.
What if I test positive for HIV
If you test positive for HIV, early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle
can help you stay
well, delay the onset of AIDS, and prevent some life-threatening conditions.
If you are
HIV-positive, follow these important steps immediately to protect your
health:
See a doctor, even if you do not feel sick -- preferably a doctor who has
experience
treating HIV. There are many drugs to treat HIV infection and that may
help you
maintain your health.
Get tested for tuberculosis. Undetected TB can cause serious illness, but
it can be
successfully treated if caught early.
Don't smoke cigarettes, drink too much alcohol, or use drugs. These can
weaken
your immune system and allow the virus to duplicate itself more rapidly.
Find
programs to help you reduce or stop using these substances, if necessary.
Where can I get information about treatment
If you are HIV-positive, your doctor or medical service should be an important
source of
information on treatment options.
When and how often should I be tested for HIV
Because the tests commonly used to detect HIV infection actually look for
antibodies
produced by your body to fight HIV, you should wait a reasonable period
of time before
being tested. Most people develop detectable antibodies within 3 months
after infection (the
average is 25 days). In rare cases, it can take up to 6 months. Therefore,
the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends testing 6 months after
the last
possible exposure (unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex or sharing needles).
People who may wish to be tested periodically include the HIV-negative
partner of a
serodiscordant couple, sex workers or others who have multiple sex partners,
and people
who inject drugs.
During the 6 months between exposure and the test, it is important to protect
yourself and
others from further possible exposures to HIV. Testing should never take
the place of
prevention.
How long does it take to get results
Results from the most commonly used HIV antibody screening test, the ELISA,
are not
available for 1-2 weeks. A "rapid test" is available for screening. It
produces quick results,
usually within 5 to 30 minutes.
How accurate are HIV test results
The tests are more than 99% accurate. The most commonly used tests are
the ELISA and
the Western blot. If the ELISA shows the blood sample is positive for HIV,
then the
Western blot is done to confirm that initial result.
How do I interpret HIV test results
A seropositive result on an HIV test means that HIV antibodies are present
in your
bloodstream and you are HIV-positive. The onset of AIDS may take up to
10 or more
years. Drug treatments are available that can further delay the development
of AIDS.
A seronegative result usually indicates that you are not infected with
HIV. However, you
should be re-tested in six months if you have engaged in high-risk behavior
during the past
six months because it can take this long for your immune system to produce
enough
antibodies.
What are the benefits of counseling
An HIV/AIDS counselor can provide emotional support and help interpret
test results. If
you learn you are HIV-positive, the counselor can explain treatment options,
discuss lifestyle
factors that can help keep you healthy longer and advise on methods to
avoid spreading HIV
to others.
If you learn you are HIV-negative, an HIV/AIDS counselor can advise on
strategies to
avoid future infection.
Testing and counseling for early diagnosis of HIV infection are recommended
for the following people:
| People who consider themselves at risk for infection |
| People who have had unprotected sex |
| Pregnant women |
| Women who plan to become pregnant |
| Women of childbearing age who are at risk of infection |
| People who have sexually transmitted diseases or who have been sexually abused |
| Spouses, sex partners, and needle-sharing partners of injecting drug users |
| Tuberculosis patients |
| Patients who received blood transfusions between early 1978 and mid-1985 |
There are now medical therapies that lower the chance of an HIV-infected
pregnant woman
passing HIV to her infant before and during birth. Zidovudine (also known
as ZDV, AZT or
Retrovir) is used to reduce perinatal transmission. Another, less expensive
drug, nevirapine,
looks very promising in clinical trials. It is important to ask your health
care provider about
the most effective treatment options for you.
If I test HIV-negative, does that mean that my partner is also HIV- negative
No. Your HIV test results reveal only your HIV status. Because HIV is not
necessarily
transmitted every time there is an exposure, your HIV test does not reveal
whether or not
your partner is infected. Your partner must also be tested. Testing should
never be used in
place of protecting yourself from infection.
