HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a viral infection that gradually destroys the immune system, resulting in infections that are hard for the body to fight. Most individuals infected with HIV will progress to AIDS if not treated. It is contracted by contact with the blood, semen, or vaginal secretions of an infected person. Once infected, a person may remain healthy for years. The following are known risk factors for HIV infection. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should definitely seek counseling and testing:

Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, cotton, water) 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 received a blood transfusion or clotting factor between 1978 and 1985?
Have you had unprotected sex with someone who would answer yes to any of the above questions?

The Test

HIV testing consists of an initial screening with two types of tests commonly used to detect HIV infection. If a screening test is positive, the results are "confirmed" using a second test such as the Western blot. A person is considered infected following a repeatedly reactive result from the screening test, confirmed by the Western blot test. A negative result means no HIV antibodies have been detected. The tests look for antibodies produced by your body to fight HIV. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 3 months after infection, the average being 20 days. In rare cases, it can take 6-12 months. During the time between exposure and the test, it is important to avoid any behavior that might result in exposure to blood, semen, or vaginal secretions.

For more information, the CDC National AIDS Hotline can be contacted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at:

1-800-342-AIDS (1-800-342-2437)
1-800-AIDS-TTY (1-800-243-7889) TTY
1-800-344-SIDA (1-800-344-7432) Spanish