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FACT SHEET FIVE THE HIV TEST
What
is HIV? HIV
is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus which can damage the bodys defence system
so that it cannot fight infection. HIV
is not easily transmitted you cannot become infected through everyday social
contact. HIV
is transmitted in three main ways: ·
Through penetrative sexual
intercourse ·
By injecting drug users sharing
syringes and needles ·
From an infected mother to her
unborn child In
the past, a number of people were infected through infected blood products. This may still occur in some areas of the world, but is
extremely unlikely in most developed countries, including the UK, where all
blood has been screened since October 1985. People
who have been infected with the virus do not all have AIDS.
In fact, most of them are still healthy and do not know they are
infected. From what we know about
the condition at present, we think that between a quarter and a third of these
people will develop AIDS in about five to seven years time.
Others may have less severe illnesses due to the virus and some will
remain well for long periods. What
is the test? When
the body is infected by HIV, it reacts by producing antibodies.
The test looks for these antibodies. It
is NOT a test for AIDS. It
will only tell you whether or not you have been infected by the virus. The test will NOT tell you if you have AIDS, and cannot
predict whether you will go on to develop AIDS. A
doctor or nurse will take a sample of blood usually from your arm and
then send it to a laboratory for the HIV antibody test.
Because the laboratory has to confirm the test, it may be about two weeks
before you get your results. What does the result mean? A
negative result means you have
probably not been infected with HIV. However,
it can take 2-3 months for antibodies to develop after you have been infected
with the virus. This means that you
should wait up to 3 months after the last occasion when you think you have been
infected before you have the test. And,
of course, a negative result does not mean you cannot become infected in future
if you put yourself at risk. A
positive result means that you have
the virus. It does not mean that
you have AIDS, or that you will necessarily get AIDS. It
does mean that you can pass the virus on to other people through sexual contact
or blood even though you may look and feel well. It
does not mean that you can infect someone by normal, everyday contact. Working, eating, drinking or sharing a house with people are
all quite safe. Should you have the test? Only
you can decide. Think carefully. The result may fundamentally affect you life. For ·
Knowing that you do not have the
virus may put your mind at ease and stop you
worrying unduly about AIDS. ·
If you do have the virus and then
develop symptoms of AIDS-related disease, your doctor may be able to start
treatment earlier, which may benefit you. ·
You may find it easier to practice
safer sex if you know you have the virus (but you should be doing this anyway). ·
If your partner has the virus,
your results may help you decide how to carry on your sex life. Against ·
No major life assurance company
will give life assurance to someone who has the virus. ·
All life assurance companies ask
searching questions if you have taken the test, even if the result was negative,
and some may not give you life assurance. ·
Your housing and employment may be
put at risk if you have the virus and it could adversely affect your chance of
getting a new mortgage. ·
Some people with the virus have
been rejected by their families and friends, and have been left to copy alone. It
may help you to write down a list of all the reasons why you are considering the
test. Put it away somewhere private
for a few days, then look at it again and ask yourself if you still feel the
same. Can I talk to someone about it? If
you want to talk about the test, or any other aspect of HIV or AIDS with a
trained adviser, you can contact one at your local Sexually Transmitted Disease,
Genito-Urinary Medicine or Venereal Disease Clinic, or you can call: National
AIDS helpline 0800 567 123 Calls
are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ■
Phone lines in other languages:
All are telephone 0800 917 2227 and available between 6.00 pm to
10.00 pm PUNJABI
Saturday CANTONESE
Sunday BENGALI
Monday URDU
Tuesday ARABIC
Wednesday GUJARATI
Thursday HINDI
Friday ■
A Minicom Service is available for people with hearing difficulties
0800 521 361 -
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Where
do I get a test?
If,
after thinking and talking it over, you decide to take the test, you can ask
your GP to arrange it for you. Or
you can contact a clinic anywhere in the UK.
These clinics are listed in the phone book under Sexually Transmitted
Diseases, or Genito-Urinary Medicine, or Venereal Disease.
There is no charge. The
result, and the fact that you have been tested, is confidential between you and
the doctor requesting the test and other staff immediately concerned with your
care. It may be difficult to keep
the result confidential if you tell friends you are having the test.
They will want to know the result. The
result will not be given to anyone but you.
You should make another appointment at the clinic because it is important
to talk to someone about the result, whether or not your test shows that you
have been infected by HIV. The
best defence against HIV and AIDS is information.
Read this leaflet as many times as you need to, and/or talk to an adviser
at an STD clinic or the National AIDS helpline, before you made a decision about
having the test.
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