HIV

What is HIV?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that weakens the immune system, making it harder to fight off infections. While HIV causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), people who test positive for HIV do not necessarily have AIDS. Scary as this may sound, it's possible to have HIV for years and not develop or show any signs of the disease. The only way to know is to get tested. And, with medication, people can be HIV + and maintain a good quality of life for a long time. According to the CDC, about 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV. 250,000 people are estimated to be living with undiagnosed HIV, meaning that they do not know they have the virus.

Are there signs or symptoms?

Not necessarily. HIV may not show any signs at all. People can be infected with the virus for years and not see or notice anything that's different with their bodies. When symptoms do appear, some people feel like they have the flu or get a skin rash. When people get serious problems like pneumonia or lose weight quickly, it may be a sign of advanced HIV. The takeaway here is this, if you are worried you may have been exposed to HIV, get tested. It's the only way to know for sure.

How does HIV spread?

HIV spreads through having unprotected oral, vaginal, and anal sex with someone who is HIV positive. It can also be spread by sharing needles with an infected person. How can you be 100% safe from getting HIV? The only way to be 100% safe is to not have sex or to be in a 100% monogamous relationship with someone who has been tested and does not have HIV. If you are sexually active, using latex condoms each and every time you have sexual (again, oral sex is sex) can greatly reduce the chances of getting infected with HIV or other STDs.

How can I get tested?

Getting tested for HIV is very easy, one quick blood draw and you'll be on your way. We offer two HIV tests: an HIV antibody test and a DNA test for recent exposure. When your results are ready, we can connect you with a physician by phone. Depending on your situation, he or she will advise you on next steps and, if necessary, discuss follow-up and treatment.

HIV-1 Antibody Screen With Reflex to Western Blot Confirmation (also known as an EIA test)

This is considered the "gold standard" test and is the most common screening for HIV. This test is 99.5% accurate in finding antibodies after seroconversion. You should be aware that antibody testing will NOT find HIV in the blood immediately after you have been exposed to the virus. When is a good time to test? Everyone's different. It can take some people up to 3 months to produce enough antibodies for the test to find. Sometimes it's sooner, sometimes later. If you're tested too soon, your result may be negative even though you've been infected. This is called a "false-negative". That's why repeat testing is critical. Getting another HIV antibody test in 3 months after the first test will give you the best, most accurate result. (So you can get some rest!)

What does "Reflex to Western Blot Confirmation" mean? Reflex testing is an automatic confirmation of the test results. That means that all positive tests are automatically followed up with another test to confirm the positive results. It's done with the same blood sample so there's no extra blood draw and no extra cost to you. You may read about something called an ELISA test. Antibody tests are also known as ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) tests.

HIV-1 DNA by PCR With HIV Antibodies by ICMA

This DNA test uses a sophisticated diagnostic technology called PCR to detect HIV DNA in blood cells. As it can pick up HIV as early as 28 days from an exposure with an 95% accuracy rate, this is an Early Detection test. Also included with this test is the HIV-1 antibody screening test which can confirm antibodies, if they are present. While a negative result with this test panel is very good news, all positive test results should be followed up with another antibody test after 90 days for confirmation of the diagnosis.

Is there a cure or treatment?

Currently there is no vaccine to prevent HIV or a treatment that cures HIV. That said, HIV can be managed, treated, and people can live long, full lives. Used in combination with one another, powerful antiretroviral medications can slow down the virus. When working closely with a doctor and following the treatment plan carefully, people can live with HIV longer than ever before.

What if I don't get it treated?

Left undiagnosed and untreated, HIV can do a lot of damage to the immune system. The end result is AIDS. How long will the disease process take is unknown. The time it takes for HIV to transition into AIDS is different for everyone. When the immune system is so worn down, it can't fight off common health problems. Also, detecting and treating HIV in pregnant women dramatically reduces the risks of transmission to an unborn baby. Early detection is the key to living with HIV and preventing it from spreading to others. There are new drugs that have slowed the progression time between HIV infection and the development of AIDS.