Frequently Asked Questions

What is HIV? Back to top
HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that can cause AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). A member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. HIV lives in the blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk or any bodily fluid that contains blood cells. HIV typically targets the T cells of the immune system. However, it can also attack cells of the brain, nervous system, digestive system, lymphatic system, and other parts of the body.

How is HIV transmitted? Back to top
HIV can be transmitted when an HIV infected person has any type of sexual intercourse with another person. This includes vaginal or anal intercourse, and oral sex on a man or woman without a condom or other barrier. Intercourse while a woman is having her period, or during outbreaks of genital sores or lesions (caused by herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases) can increase the risk of HIV transmission. Transmission can also occur from sharing needles (tattoo and IV drug use), accidental needle sticks, infected blood products prior to 1985, pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, and transplanted organs from donors. Routine screening of organs and blood products began in 1985.

How can HIV be prevented? Back to top
The only way to ensure that you are 100 percent safe from HIV transmission is to abstain from sex. Outside of abstaining from sex, you can decrease your risk for HIV transmission by using a new condom each time you have sexual intercourse, to include oral sex. For oral sex on a woman, the use of a dental dam is recommended in order to decrease the risk of HIV transmission.

There is more than one type of barrier available for oral, anal and vaginal sex, the first being the male condom. The male condom should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions with a water-based lubricant for anal and vaginal sex. Also available are flavored male condoms that can effectively be used for oral sex on a male. These are not recommended for vaginal penetration, as they can cause yeast infections given that they are often coated in sugar. The second most common type of protection is the female condom. This should also be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions with lubricant for vaginal sex. A couple should not use a male condom and a female condom at the same time as this will cause one or both of them to rip or tear. Lastly, dental dams are recommended for oral sex on a woman and also come in assorted flavors.

Who is at risk for HIV? Back to top
You are at risk for HIV if you have unprotected vaginal, anal or oral intercourse or share needles with a partner who is positive for HIV. You cannot tell whether a person is positive for HIV by looking at them. The only way to know for sure that you are not positive for HIV is to get tested at your doctor’s office, local health department, or other HIV testing facility. According to the CDC, certain populations are at an increasingly greater risk for HIV transmission:

How do I know if I am infected? Back to top
The HIV-antibody test is the only way to tell if you are infected. You cannot tell by looking at someone if he or she carries HIV. Someone can look and feel perfectly healthy and still be infected. In fact, an estimated one-third of those who are HIV positive do not know it. Neither do their sex or needle-sharing partners.

If I think I have been exposed to HIV, how soon can I get tested? Back to top
To find out when you should be tested, discuss it with an HIV counselor at the HIV test site or with your personal physician. The tests commonly used to detect HIV infection look for the antibodies produced by your body after you have been exposed to 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.

What if I’m Positive? Back to top
Having HIV does not necessarily mean you are going to get sick or die soon. HIV works slowly in the body. Most people with HIV infection are healthy and fairly free from symptoms for many years. If you test positive for HIV, immediate medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. There are now many drugs that treat HIV infection and AIDS-related illnesses. Prompt medical care may help delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions.

If you are tested using the Oraquick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test and the test is “reactive,” (in other words, it is positive) our department will draw blood using venipuncture and send the blood to a lab for a confirmatory test. The Oraquick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test is a screening test. It usually takes two weeks to receive the results for the confirmatory test. You do not have a diagnosis of HIV until the confirmatory test is received.

While you are waiting for the results from the confirmatory test, you will meet with staff members from our Partner Services Program who will begin to assist you with connecting you with services, notifying your partners, , helping your partners gain early access to individualized counseling, HIV testing, medical evaluation, treatment, and other prevention services.

This also provides clients and their partners who test positive a chance to talk with other people about HIV, learn more about this chronic illness, and develop a plan to address his or her feelings, find out about local resources, and learn that people living with HIV are not alone.

What if I’m Negative? Back to top
If you test confidentially with the Oraquick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Test and your test is negative, you were either not exposed to HIV, or you were exposed to HIV and your body has not yet produced enough HIV Antibodies for the test to detect them in your blood.

If you had an unprotected sexual encounter within the three months prior to your test, you will need to return to be retested three months after the date of your last unprotected sexual or needle-sharing encounter. During the time you are waiting to be retested, it is recommended that you abstain from sex or use a new barrier/condom with each sexual act during this time. It is also recommended that you refrain from sharing needles during drug use.

If your last unprotected sexual encounter or needle-sharing encounter was more than three months before your test and your test is negative, you now have the ability to remain negative by obtaining education on how to participate in safer sex practices. Visit The Body to learn about safer sex practices.

If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my partner is HIV negative also? Back to top
No. Your HIV test result reveals only your HIV status. Your negative test result does not tell you whether your partner has HIV.

HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time there is an exposure. Therefore, taking an HIV test should not be seen as a method to find out if your partner is infected. Testing should never take the place of protecting yourself against HIV infection. If your behaviors are putting you at risk for exposure to HIV, it is important to reduce your risks.

What if I was exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours? Back to top
If you were knowingly exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours through sexual contact or due to a needle stick, you have the option of undergoing post-exposure prophylaxis. Prophylaxis means disease prevention. Post-exposure prophylaxis (or PEP) involves taking a prescription of antiviral medications as soon as possible after exposure to HIV. This can prevent exposure to HIV resulting in HIV infection. The medications are only available with a prescription. PEP should begin within as soon as possible after exposure to HIV, but certainly within 72 hours. Treatment with 2 or 3 antiviral drugs will continue for 4 weeks, if tolerated. A prescription for these medications can be obtained through your primary care physician. If you do not have a primary care physician and require PEP, contact our office immediately for assistance.

How do I prove to my partner that I am HIV negative? Back to top
While we encourage honest conversations between partners regarding HIV and STD status, MCDPH Counseling & Testing does not provide written proof of an HIV negative result. We also do not provide testing sessions with the partner present in the room. This allows for complete privacy and confidentiality.

If you wish to discuss your status with your partner, you may bring your partner with you for a joint counseling session. During the session, the counselor will allow you to disclose your test results to your partner and the counselor will verify the accuracy of the results. Should your partner choose to get tested, he or she may do so in a separate private session.

What about home test kits? Back to top
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved home-use HIV test kits, which allow consumers to interpret their own HIV test results in a few minutes. Currently only the Home Access test is approved by the FDA. This kit can be found at most drug stores. The testing procedure involves pricking your finger, placing drops of blood on a specially treated card, and then mailing the card in for testing at a licensed laboratory. Customers are given an identification number to use when phoning for the test results. Callers may speak to a counselor before taking the test, while waiting for the test result, and when getting the result.