HIV Testing

HIV Testing

• Many reasons exist to have an HIV test performed.
  
  
  • Take advantage of early treatment and monitoring.
    
    
    • The life expectancy of a person infected with HIV has greatly increased over the past 10 years because of new treatments and prevention of opportunistic infections.
      
      
    • Early medical attention can slow the growth of HIV. The slower the virus spreads, the longer your body will be able to ward off the illnesses and life-threatening conditions that often accompany AIDS.
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  • Know about HIV so that you do not transmit the virus to others including sexual partners and future children.
    
    
  • Medical treatment with medications, such as zidovudine (AZT), may reduce the risk of a pregnant woman infecting her unborn child with HIV.
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• Anonymous HIV testing is available in most states. Often, the tests are funded by the public health department and are performed at no cost. Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one, except yourself, has access to your test results because your name is never recorded at the test site.
  
  
  • You will be given a letter and number code that will be matched with the test results.
    
    
  • Most anonymous test sites provide pretest counseling and risk assessment.
    
    
  • You must return, in person, in about 1-2 weeks to get your results.
    
    
  • Anonymous testing sites never give written results and are often preferred because they protect you from risks of discrimination and disclosure to insurance companies.
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• If you give your name at an HIV test site, the test is considered confidential, not anonymous. Confidential antibody testing means that both you and the doctor will know your results, which may be recorded as a written report in your medical file. As a permanent record in your medical file, the information may be available to insurance companies and public agencies.
  
  
  • Anonymous HIV antibody testing may not be an option in several circumstances.
    
    
    • Active military personnel and all men and women seeking to join the armed services are required to participate in annual HIV testing, and a military doctor can notify the spouse of a reservist if that reservist has tested positive.
      
      
    • All applicants for US residency must take an HIV-antibody test as part of the compulsory medical exam. Those who test positive are denied residency automatically. This measure also applies to all people requesting change in residence status, including citizenship applications.
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    • Anonymous testing sites will not perform an antibody test on children under the age of 12. Children under 12 have to be tested through a private physician or clinic where the results will be confidential—not anonymous.
  
  
• Virtually every state has passed laws dealing directly with HIV or AIDS. Many states have enacted policies and laws that protect HIV-related information either directly or indirectly. Because laws may vary among states, it is prudent to be informed prior to consenting to an HIV test. Call your state or local health department to find out what the laws are in your state.