The Peter Schick Foundation

Should I get tested?: Yes. The following are behaviors that increase your chances of getting HIV. If you answer yes to any of them, you should definitely get an HIV test. If you continue with any of these behaviors, you should be tested every year. Talk to a health care provider about an HIV testing schedule that is right for you. * Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others? * Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners? * Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money? * Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), like syphilis? * Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions? If you have had sex with someone whose history of sex partners and/or drug use is unknown to you or if you or your partner has had many sex partners, then you have more of a chance of being infected with HIV. Both you and your new partner should get tested for HIV, and learn the results, before having sex for the first time. For women who plan to become pregnant, testing is even more important. If a woman is infected with HIV, medical care and certain drugs given during pregnancy can lower the chance of passing HIV to her baby. All women who are pregnant should be tested during each pregnancy.
What kind of tests are there?: HIV Antibody Testing Options The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 850,000 and 900,000 Americans are infected with HIV. An estimated 180,000 to 280,000 Americans do not know they are infected, and may continue to engage in behavior that could jeopardize their health, and the health of others. Testing Programs: Voluntary counseling, testing, and referral programs (CTR) provide people an opportunity to learn their current HIV status, receive counseling about any behavioral changes needed to avoid infection or infecting others, and receive information and referrals to additional prevention programs, medical care or other services. Confidential HIV Testing means you give your name when getting tested. Only medical personnel or state health departments have access to the test results. You must provide written permission before this information can be revealed to others. Anonymous HIV testing means that no name is given to the testing center and only you are aware of the results. Anonymous testing is available in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Test results are given by randomly assigned numbers at the time of testing. Types of HIV Antibody Tests There are several HIV antibody tests being used today. All testing options are not available in all areas. Contact your local health department for the tests available in your area. Standard blood test: This was the first HIV antibody test developed and made available, and is the most widely used. With this test, an initial assay is used (the ELISA), and confirmed using a more specific test (the Western Blot). Oral mucosal transudate test: This test, an alternative to the standard blood test, uses a specially treated pad placed in a person’s mouth, and gently rubbed between the lower cheek and gum. The pad collects an oral fluid called oral mucosal transudate (OMT). This fluid contains HIV antibodies in an HIV- infected person. This test does not test for HIV in saliva. Urine HIV antibody test: The urine HIV-1 testing method is a painless, non-evasive option for getting an HIV antibody test. This test uses the urine EIA (ELISA) and urine Western Blot technique to detect HIV antibodies, and is FDA – licensed as an alternative to the blood test system. This test eliminates accidental needle sticks and exposure related dangers, protecting the patient and healthcare worker. Rapid HIV antibody tests: Where the standard HIV antibody testing procedure requires up to two weeks for results, the rapid test gives results in 5-60 minutes. Currently approved rapid HIV tests only test with blood. Other rapid HIV testing methods are in development. To perform the test, a fingerstick sample of blood is collected from an individual and transferred to a vial where it is mixed with a developing solution.The test device, which resembles a dipstick, is then inserted into the vial. In as little as 20 minutes, the test device will indicate if HIV–1 antibodies are present in the solution. Although the results of rapid screenings will be reported in point–of–care settings, as with all screening tests for HIV, if the OraQuick test gives a reactive test result, that result must be confirmed with an additional specific test.The OraQuick test has not been approved to screen blood donors. Home Testing Kit: This do–it–yourself test kit uses the same technology as the standard blood test. Individual blood samples are collected at home, and mailed to a laboratory.Test results are provided over the telephone. The serum home testing kit costs between $30 and $45, and is available at many drug stores. Currently there is only one FDA approved home sample collection kit. Home HIV tests for other fluids are in development. For more information about testing options in your area, contact you local health department or the National STD/HIV/AIDS hotline (1–800–342–2437).The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is by taking an HIV antibody test.
How do HIV tests work?: HIV Antibody Testing Options The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 850,000 and 900,000 Americans are infected with HIV. An estimated 180,000 to 280,000 Americans do not know they are infected, and may continue to engage in behavior that could jeopardize their health, and the health of others. Testing Programs: Voluntary counseling, testing, and referral programs (CTR) provide people an opportunity to learn their current HIV status, receive counseling about any behavioral changes needed to avoid infection or infecting others, and receive information and referrals to additional prevention programs, medical care or other services. Confidential HIV Testing means you give your name when getting tested. Only medical personnel or state health departments have access to the test results. You must provide written permission before this information can be revealed to others. Anonymous HIV testing means that no name is given to the testing center and only you are aware of the results. Anonymous testing is available in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Test results are given by randomly assigned numbers at the time of testing. Types of HIV Antibody Tests There are several HIV antibody tests being used today. All testing options are not available in all areas. Contact your local health department for the tests available in your area. Standard blood test: This was the first HIV antibody test developed and made available, and is the most widely used. With this test, an initial assay is used (the ELISA), and confirmed using a more specific test (the Western Blot). Oral mucosal transudate test: This test, an alternative to the standard blood test, uses a specially treated pad placed in a person’s mouth, and gently rubbed between the lower cheek and gum. The pad collects an oral fluid called oral mucosal transudate (OMT). This fluid contains HIV antibodies in an HIV- infected person. This test does not test for HIV in saliva. Urine HIV antibody test: The urine HIV-1 testing method is a painless, non-evasive option for getting an HIV antibody test. This test uses the urine EIA (ELISA) and urine Western Blot technique to detect HIV antibodies, and is FDA – licensed as an alternative to the blood test system. This test eliminates accidental needle sticks and exposure related dangers, protecting the patient and healthcare worker. Rapid HIV antibody tests: Where the standard HIV antibody testing procedure requires up to two weeks for results, the rapid test gives results in 5-60 minutes. Currently approved rapid HIV tests only test with blood. Other rapid HIV testing methods are in development. To perform the test, a fingerstick sample of blood is collected from an individual and transferred to a vial where it is mixed with a developing solution.The test device, which resembles a dipstick, is then inserted into the vial. In as little as 20 minutes, the test device will indicate if HIV–1 antibodies are present in the solution. Although the results of rapid screenings will be reported in point–of–care settings, as with all screening tests for HIV, if the OraQuick test gives a reactive test result, that result must be confirmed with an additional specific test.The OraQuick test has not been approved to screen blood donors. Home Testing Kit: This do–it–yourself test kit uses the same technology as the standard blood test. Individual blood samples are collected at home, and mailed to a laboratory.Test results are provided over the telephone. The serum home testing kit costs between $30 and $45, and is available at many drug stores. Currently there is only one FDA approved home sample collection kit. Home HIV tests for other fluids are in development. For more information about testing options in your area, contact you local health department or the National STD/HIV/AIDS hotline (1–800–342–2437).The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is by taking an HIV antibody test. This article was provided by National Association of People With AIDS.
How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?: Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies your body makes against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this time period can vary from person to person. This time period is commonly referred to as the “window period.” Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 2 to 8 weeks (the average is 25 days). Even so, there is a chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. Therefore, if the initial negative HIV test was conducted within the first 3 months after possible exposure, repeat testing should be considered >3 months after the exposure occurred to account for the possibility of a false-negative result. Ninety-seven percent of persons will develop antibodies in the first 3 months following the time of their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV. Another type of test is an RNA test, which detects the HIV virus directly. The time between HIV infection and RNA detection is 9–11 days. These tests, which are more costly and used less often than antibody tests, are used in some parts of the United States. For information on HIV testing, you can talk to your health care provider or you can find the location of the HIV testing site nearest to you by visiting the National HIV Testing Resources Web site at http://www.hivtest.org or call CDC-INFO 24 Hours/Day at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), 1-888-232-6348 (TTY), in English, en Español. Both of these resources are confidential. If you would like more information or have personal concerns, call CDC-INFO 24 Hours/Day at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), 1-888-232-6348 (TTY), in English, en Español.
What is the difference between an Anonymous and Confidential Test?: Anonymous and Confidential use the same testing method. The only difference is one does not have your name attached to the results. Anonymous antibody testing is available at Anonymous Test Sites in some California counties. Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one has access to your test results since your name is never recorded at the test site. It is always a good idea to contact the testing clinic directly to confirm what type of test is available. Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care provider know your results, which may be recorded in your medical file.
If I test Positive, does that mean that I will die?: Testing positive for HIV means that you now carry the virus that causes AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS, nor does it mean that you will die. Although there is no cure for AIDS, many opportunistic infections that make people sick can be controlled, prevented or eliminated. This has substantially increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with AIDS.
Is there a cure for HIV/AIDS?: Although there have been many advances in HIV treatments and therapies in recent years that have dramatically improved the quality of life and life expectancy of persons with HIV/AIDS in the US and other developed countries, there is, as of yet, no cure.
What is HIV?: Each letter stands for the following terms: H - Human - because this virus can only infect human beings. I - Immuno-deficiency - because the effect of the virus is to create a deficiency, a failure to work properly, within the body's immune system. V - Virus - because this organism is a virus, which means one of its characteristics is that it is incapable of reproducing by itself. It reproduces by taking over the machinery of the human cell. HIV is the virus medical researchers believe causes AIDS. Since the vast majority of researchers believe that HIV is the sole cause of AIDS, we often refer to HIV as "the AIDS virus." Like other viruses, HIV attacks cells in the body. But what makes HIV different is that the immune system can never fully get rid of HIV because the virus attacks the immune system itself--the very thing that would normally get rid of a virus. Today there are medical treatments that can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system and that can prevent or cure some of the illnesses associated with advanced HIV disease. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventive care.
What is AIDS?: The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. Each letter stands for the following terms: A - Acquired - because it's a condition one must acquire or get infected with, not something transmitted through the genes. I - Immune - because it affects the body's immune system, the part of the body which usually works to fight off germs such as bacteria and viruses. D - Deficiency - because it makes the immune system deficient (that is, the immune system may not function properly). S - Syndrome - because someone with AIDS may experience a wide range of different diseases and opportunistic infections. AIDS severely weakens the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. That is, people diagnosed with AIDS may have opportunistic infections, which are caused by microbes such as viruses or bacteria that usually do not make healthy people sick. The immune system of a person with AIDS is threatened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Definition of AIDS The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a part of the United States federal government, is responsible for determining who is classified as having AIDS. The CDC is also responsible for tracking the spread of HIV and AIDS in the United States. The AIDS definition developed by the CDC includes the following conditions: * a person must be HIV positive, AND * have a CD4 (T-cell) count below 200 OR one or more opportunistic infections. A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using the above clinical criteria.
HOW DO YOU GET INFECTED WITH HIV?: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not spread easily. You can only get HIV if you get infected blood or sexual fluids into your system. You can't get it from mosquito bites, coughing or sneezing, sharing household items, or swimming in the same pool as someone with HIV. Some people talk about "shared body fluids" being risky for HIV, but no documented cases of HIV have been caused by sweat, saliva or tears. However, even small amounts of blood in your mouth might transmit HIV during kissing or oral sex. Blood can come from flossing your teeth, or from sores caused by gum disease, or by eating very hot or sharp, pointed food. To infect someone, the virus has to get past the body's defenses. These include skin and saliva. If your skin is not broken or cut, it protects you against infection from blood or sexual fluids. Saliva contains chemicals that can help kill HIV in your mouth. If HIV-infected blood or sexual fluid gets inside your body, you can get infected. This can happen through an open sore or wound, during sexual activity, or if you share equipment to inject drugs. HIV can also be spread from a mother to her child during pregnancy or delivery. This is called "vertical transmission." A baby can also be infected by drinking an infected woman's breast milk. Adults exposed to breast milk of an HIV-infected woman may also be exposed to HIV.
HOW DOES HIV SPREAD DURING SEX?: To spread HIV during sex, HIV infection in blood or sexual fluids must be transmitted to someone. Sexual fluids come from a man's penis or from a woman's vagina, before, during, or after orgasm. HIV can be transmitted when infected fluid gets into someone's body. You can't spread HIV if there is no HIV infection. If you and your partners are not infected with HIV, there is no risk. An "undetectable viral load does NOT mean "no HIV infection." If there is no contact with blood or sexual fluids, there is no risk. HIV needs to get into the body for infection to occur. Safer sex guidelines are ways to reduce the risk of spreading HIV during sexual activity.
What is Safe sex?: SAFE ACTIVITIES Safe activities have no risk for spreading HIV. Abstinence (never having sex) is totally safe. Sex with just one partner is safe as long as neither one of you is infected and if neither one of you ever has sex or shares needles with anyone else. Fantasy, masturbation, or hand jobs (where you keep your fluids to yourself), sexy talk, and non-sexual massage are also safe. These activities avoid contact with blood or sexual fluids, so there is no risk of transmitting HIV. To be safe, assume that your sex partners are infected with HIV. You can’t tell if people are infected by how they look. They could be lying if they tell you they are not infected, especially if they want to have sex with you. Some people got HIV from their steady partners who were unfaithful "just once". Even people who got a negative test result might be infected. They might have been infected after they got tested, or they might have gotten the test too soon after they were exposed to HIV. THE BOTTOM LINE HIV infection can occur during sexual activity. Sex is safe only if there is no HIV, no blood or sexual fluids, or no way for HIV to get into the body. You can reduce the risk of infection if you avoid unsafe activities or if you use barriers like condoms. Decide on your limits and stick to them. For a complete discusion of this important subject, please visit us in our special section on this topic, Everything you wanted to know about Safe Sex, but where afraid to ask.
HOW DOES DRUG USE RELATE TO HIV?: THE BOTTOM LINE Drug use is a major cause of new HIV infections. Shared equipment can spread HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases. Alcohol and drug use, even when just used recreationally, contribute to unsafe sexual activities. To protect yourself from infection, never re-use any equipment for using drugs. Even if you re-use your own syringes, clean them thoroughly between times. Cleaning is only partly effective. In some communities, needle exchange programs provide free, new syringes. These programs reduce the rate of new HIV infections. Drug use can lead to missed doses of ARVs. This increases the chances of treatment failure and resistance to medications. Mixing recreational drugs and ARVs can be dangerous. Drug interactions can cause serious side effects or dangerous overdoses.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY AIDS MYTHS?: When AIDS first became known, it was a very mysterious disease. It caused the death of many people. There are still many unanswered questions about the disease. Many people reacted with fear and came up with stories to back up their fear. Most of these myths have to do with how easy it is to become infected with HIV. Most of these are not true. Myths range from the ease of HIV transmission,to myths about a cure,not to mention some creative conspiracy theories, and a plethora of general misinformation. If you would like to learn more about these "myths", visit us in our education section, and get the truth.
Should I tell others that I'm HIV-Positive?: GENERAL GUIDELINES Here are some things to think about when you're considering telling someone that you're HIV-positive: * Know why you want to tell them. What do you want from them? * Anticipate their reaction. What's the best you can hope for? The worst you might have to deal with? * Prepare by informing yourself about HIV disease. You may want to leave articles or a hotline phone number for the person you tell. * Get support. Talk it over with someone you trust, and come up with a plan. * Accept the reaction. You can't control how others will deal with your news. Please visit our education section for to learn about more of the issues concerning this subject.
WHAT IS ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)?: ARV therapy means treating viral infections like HIV with drugs. The drugs do not kill the virus. However, they slow down the growth of the virus. When the virus is slowed down, so is HIV disease. Antiretroviral drugs are referred to as ARV. ARV therapy is referred to as ART.
WHAT ARE OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS?: In our bodies, we carry many germs - bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. When our immune system is working, it controls these germs. But when the immune system is weakened by HIV disease or by some medications, these germs can get out of control and cause health problems. Infections that take advantage of weakness in the immune defenses are called "opportunistic". The phrase "opportunistic infection" is often shortened to "OI".
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON OIs?: In the early years of the AIDS epidemic, OIs caused a lot of sickness and deaths. Once people started taking strong antiretroviral therapy (ART), however, a lot fewer people got OIs. It's not clear how many people with HIV will get a specific OI. In women, health problems in the vaginal area may be early signs of HIV. These can include pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis, among others. The most common OIs are listed here, along with the disease they usually cause, and the CD4 cell count when the disease becomes active: * Candidiasis (Thrush) is a fungal infection of the mouth, throat, or vagina. CD4 cell range: can occur even with fairly high CD4 cells. * Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a viral infection that causes eye disease that can lead to blindness.CD4 cell range: under 50. * Herpes simplex viruses can cause oral herpes (cold sores) or genital herpes. These are fairly common infections, but if you have HIV, the outbreaks can be much more frequent and more severe. They can occur at any CD4 cell count. * Malaria is common in the developing world. It is more common and more severe in people with HIV infection. * Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC or MAI) is a bacterial infection that can cause recurring fevers, general sick feelings, problems with digestion, and serious weight loss. CD4 cell range: under 75. * Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a fungal infection that can cause a fatal pneumonia. CD4 cell range: under 200. Unfortunately this is still a fairly common OI in people who have not been tested or treated for HIV. * Toxoplasmosis (Toxo) is a protozoal infection of the brain. T-cell range: under 100. * Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs, and can cause meningitis. CD4 cell range: Everyone with HIV who tests positive for exposure to TB should be treated.
HOW SERIOUS IS HIV FOR WOMEN?: Only 7% of AIDS cases reported in 1985 in the US were women and girls. That percentage grew to 27% in 2004. About 53% of women are infected through sex with an HIV-infected man (often an injection drug user), and about 29% through drug use (see Fact Sheet 154 on Drug Use and HIV). In the US, AIDS rates among women are highest in the Southeast and the Northeast. About 67% of infected women in the US are Black, although only 12% of the US population is Black.
WHAT DO WOMEN NEED TO KNOW?: * Women are at risk for HIV infection. Many women think AIDS is a disease of gay men. But women get HIV from sharing needles and from heterosexual sex. * During sex, HIV is transmitted from men to women much more easily than from women to men. A woman's risk of infection is higher with anal intercourse, or if she has a vaginal disease. The risk of infection is higher if your sex partner is or was an injection drug user, has other sex partners, has had sex with infected people, or has sex with men. * Women should protect themselves against HIV infection. Having male sex partners use condoms lowers the chance of HIV infection. There is a female condom that provides some protection, but not as much as a male condom. Other forms of birth control, such as birth control pills, diaphragms, or implants do NOT provide protection against HIV. Several microbicides (creams, gels, and foams) that women can use to prevent HIV infection are in final testing. * Get tested if you think you were exposed to HIV. Many women don't find out they have HIV until they become ill or get tested during pregnancy. Women who aren't tested for HIV seem to get sick and die faster than men. But if they get tested and treated, they live as long as men. * Gynecological problems can be early signs of HIV infection. Ulcers in the vagina, persistent yeast infections, and severe pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can be signs of HIV. Hormone changes, birth control pills, or antibiotics can also cause these vaginal problems. See your health care provider to make sure you know the cause. * Women get more and different side effects than men. Women are more likely than men to get skin rashes and liver problems, and to experience body shape changes. They also have more problems caused by human papillomavirus. HPV does not seem to improve when people take antiretroviral therapy (ART). * Many women are parents in addition to dealing with their health and employment. This can make it more difficult to take medications and schedule medical appointments. With proper support, however, women do very well on HIV treatment.
HOW DO BABIES GET AIDS?: The virus that causes AIDS can be transmitted from an infected mother to her newborn child. Without treatment, about 20-30% of babies of infected mothers get HIV. Mothers with higher viral loads are more likely to infect their babies. However, no viral load is low enough to be "safe." Infection usually happens just before or during delivery, when the baby is exposed to the mother's blood. Drinking breast milk from an infected woman can also infect babies. Mothers who are HIV-infected should generally not breast-feed their babies. To reduce the risk of HIV infection to an HIV-negative woman when the father is HIV-positive, some couples have used sperm washing and articial insemination. For more information on HIV reproduction and sperm washing, see the web site Creathe at http://www.creathe.org/index.php
How Many Older People Have AIDS?: About 78,000 people age 50 or over have AIDS in the United States. This is about 10-15% of all people with AIDS. In some cities, 15-25% of people with AIDS are 50 or over. The number of older people diagnosed with AIDS is increasing. About half of the older people with AIDS have been infected for one year or less. Many people don't consider age 50 to be "old." However, age 50 is being used more often to keep statistics on "older people" with HIV and AIDS. Please visit our education section to learn more about issues specific to older people with HIV.