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• If you test positive, you can start to take measures
to protect others from being infected;
• If you are pregnant and test HIV positive, medication
and other precautions may reduce the risk of infecting your child.
How can I get tested?
There are many places for you to get
tested. Most people get tested by their private doctors; at local
health department facilities; or in hospitals. Some states offer anonymous
HIV testing. Also, it’s important for you to know that there are laws
designed to protect your rights when it comes to HIV testing.Know
your testing rights. |
Do I need to get tested more than once?
Yes. If you are sexually active you should be tested for HIV regularly.
It is recommended that you be tested every 6 months after your last
possible exposure. Most blood tests are able to detect HIV within
four weeks of initial exposure, but it can take as long as three to
six months for HIV to be found. 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.
What happens if I test positive?
If you test positive for HIV, 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 individuals with HIV. There
are many drugs that treat HIV infection and help you to maintain
your health, thus delaying the onset of AIDS, the disease caused
by HIV.
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• Get tested for tuberculosis
(TB). 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. If necessary, find programs
to help you reduce or stop using these substances.
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How do I know if I have HIV?
Get tested! There is no test for AIDS, only a test for HIV, the virus
that causes AIDS. Immediately after infection, some people
may develop mild, flu-like symptoms (fever, headache, to name
a few). However, even if you look and feel healthy, you should still
get tested. Frequent testing is the only definitive way of knowing
your HIV status!
I feel fine. Why should I get tested?
Just because you feel fine does not mean that you should not get tested.
It isn’t unusual for someone to be infected by HIV and not exhibit
any of the symptoms of an HIV infection. Here are some other reasons
why you should get tested:
• If you’re in the early stages of infection, you
can take steps to protect your long-term health;
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