To commemorate World AIDS Day 2011, you may have extended your heart to others through participation in awareness events or a candlelight vigil. It’s possible that, in learning more about HIV/AIDS, you think you might be at risk; the diagnostic process may seem daunting. Here, learn more about the disease, how it’s contracted and what it’s actually like to get tested.
What is HIV/AIDS?
The CDC writes that HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks CD4+ T blood cells, critical defenders against diseases. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 56,000 Americans contract HIV each year. The Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force adds that having 1,150 CD4 cells is considered healthy; when HIV progresses to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), the number drops below 200. In some cases, the CDC reports, it can take over 10 years for HIV symptoms to appear; if you think you may have been exposed, getting tested as soon as possible is critical.
How do I know if I’ve been exposed?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that HIV is transmitted through body fluids including blood, pre-seminal fluid, semen, breast milk, rectal mucous and vaginal fluids. While warning signs are possible (including weight loss, fever and fatigue), many are easily associated with other conditions. Getting tested is the only way to be sure of an HIV infection.
The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research reports that having sex without a new condom is extremely risky, and having multiple sexual partners increases the possibility of contraction. Open sores from an STD make it much easier for HIV to enter the bloodstream. Outside of sexual contact, sharing syringes and needles for intravenous drug use is a way to risk contact with infected blood.
What is it like to get tested?
The experience may differ depending on whether you consult a physician or go to a free clinic. The Mayo Foundation writes that the person administering the test may ask about the method of exposure, any experienced symptoms and current prescriptions. In some cases, the physician will give a more thorough examination, paying particular attention to the mouth, skin, lungs, abdomen and lymph nodes.
The Mayo Foundation’s website describes two main HIV/AIDS tests. One looks for antibodies in the saliva or the blood. Because antibodies take between 12 weeks and six months to register, this type of test does not deliver an immediate diagnosis. Another test identifies an HIV-produced protein, HIV antigen, which may appear only days after the date of infection. If a test comes up positive, additional diagnostics are required to determine how far along the disease is in the body.
Where should I go?
If you want to get tested, the National HIV Testing Resources website will let you search for locations near you. If you’d like anonymity, the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force provides free oral swab tests with results in a week to ten days. Rapid HIV tests are administered at the discretion of the tester (and are not available Sunday or Friday). The Task Force is located at 5913 Penn Avenue on the second floor; you can easily use your Chatham ID as a bus pass to get Downtown. Call the Task Force toll-free at 1-888-204-8821, or visit their website for more information and testing hours.
The call is free, the test is free, and the ride is free; all you need to give is time. It might be a life-saving investment.