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Text Box: Confidential Testing   TAP provides free and confidential HIV on-site testing using Orasure, an oral specimen collection device, in order to obtain a sample, which is then tested in a lab. TAP also offers the OraQuick test a 20-minute test that uses a blood sample to determine if there are any HIV antibodies in the blood sample. TAP also provides a pre-counseling questionnaire to assess the client’s risk factor and provides follow-up counseling.   To schedule an oral HIV test call TAP at (785) 232-3100, email Jerry or Amy or come by the office at 708 S.W. 6th Ave, Topeka.   The Kansas Department of Health provides anonymous and confidential HIV testing, as well as testing for other sexually transmitted diseases.  For more information, visit their Website:  http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/hiv-std/

 

 

Text Box: How does HIV testing work? HIV tests detect the antibodies that the body produces to fight HIV once infection has occurred. A positive result means that HIV antibodies are present in the blood. In other words, a person is infected with HIV and can infect others. A negative result means that no HIV antibodies were found in the blood at the time it was drawn. It ordinarily takes three to six months (the window period) for people infected with HIV to develop enough antibodies for HIV to be accurately detected. This may mean that you need to be tested again if you may have been infected during this period. There are 2 different ways TAP screens for HIV: Rapid HIV Test:  A prevention educator draws a blood sample, which is processed at the testing location. Test results can be ready in about twenty minutes. Currently, only one rapid test-OraQuick-has been licensed by the FDA for commercial use. It is available at TAP after a pre-counseling questionnaire.   Oral Test:  A Prevention Educator will administer the test, the person getting tested is swabbed with a tiny brush on the inside of his or her mouth and the PE sends the sample to a lab for screening. Results are generally available within 7-10 days, depending on the testing site. OraSure is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral fluid HIV test available today. It is available at TAP after a pre-counseling questionnaire. Note: the saliva and oral mucus contain antibodies to HIV, not HIV itself, so HIV is not transmitted through these fluids.   When I get tested, where will that information go? In the United States, HIV tests are either anonymous or confidential. With an anonymous HIV test, your name is not linked to your test results; you are assigned a number matched to your results. With confidential testing, your name is recorded along with your test results, which are provided to the state health department for the purpose of tracking the spread of the epidemic. Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care provider know your results, which may be recorded in your medical file. There are also testing sites that offer confidential testing. Those who are tested confidentially and are found to be infected with HIV are reported to local public health officials so that the government can better track the extent of the disease in the population as a whole. TAP only provides Confidential testing. What does it cost to get tested? TAP provides both HIV testing options free of charge to the public. To best assess your risk, TAP prevention educators will likely ask some personal questions that are important in helping provide the best care for you. Come prepared to talk honestly about your sexual history, including sexual experiences, number of partners, methods of protection or contraception used most regularly (or not), and drug use history. You should also mention any bodily changes, including menstrual cycle changes, vaginal or penile discharge, genital discomfort, or genital skin changes. If I or someone I know tests positive, what are my next steps? What are the treatment options? For those who test positive for HIV, it is important to talk with a healthcare provider-preferably one who treats HIV-positive patients as a specialty-about what is the most appropriate anti-HIV treatment for them. It is also important to find support and resources within your community. Tap has two case managers on staff to assist individuals with health concerns and other assistance. While there is no cure for HIV, new combination drug therapies have been found to be highly effective for some in delaying the onset of AIDS. Additionally, prescribed medications can help to prevent and treat any opportunistic infections. Remember, early diagnosis and consistent care from a health care professional are essential to best treat HIV. Should I get tested? If you are concerned that you might have HIV or another STD, or have never been tested, you should discuss your risk with your health care provider. (Remember that many STDs show no visible symptoms and the only way to know for sure is to be tested.) However, if you notice changes in your genital area or other symptoms of STDs, you should see a health care provider immediately. What if my partner does not want to talk about STDs or HIV/AIDS? If a couple is candid and understanding about safer sex and each person's risk history, they can create a stronger relationship. If your partner is reluctant to talk about STDs and HIV/AIDS, you may want to frame the discussion by saying that being open about the subject is a way for you each to express that you care about the other's safety and well-being. What is the link between HIV and other STDs? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have STDs other than HIV may be two to five times more likely to become infected with HIV. Having STDs that can cause open sores, such as herpes, is especially risky. However, STDs that do not cause open sores still pose a threat. What are the signs of other STDs? Many people assume that they would know if they had an STD. But some STDs, like HIV, often do not show visible symptoms. What this means is you can't always tell just by looking. Also, even without any visible symptoms, an STD can still be passed to a partner. It is impossible to know if you or your partner(s) have an STD without getting tested. What is the risk of HIV and other STD transmission from oral sex? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Oral sex is not "safe sex." While the risk of contracting HIV through oral sex is lower than through vaginal or anal intercourse, just how much lower is hard to know. It is possible to contract HIV and other STDs such as herpes or gonorrhea through unprotected oral sex. To reduce your risk, experts advise using a condom or other barrier method (such as a dental dam) during oral sex.

Text Box: Interpretation of Test Results:   A positive (reactive) result means:   · You are HIV-positive (carrying the virus that causes AIDS). · You can infect others who come into contact with your blood, semen or vaginal fluid. You should take necessary precautions to avoid transmitting HIV to others.   A positive result does NOT mean:   · You have AIDS. · You will necessarily get AIDS. · You are immune to AIDS, even though you have antibodies.   A negative (non-reactive) result means:   · No HIV antibodies were found in your blood at this time.   A negative result does NOT mean:   · You are not infected with HIV (you may still be in the "window period"). · You are immune to AIDS. · You have a "resistance" to infection. · You will never get AIDS.   An indeterminate result (which is rare) means:   · The Western Blot (WB) result is unclear. The entire HIV test must be repeated with a new blood sample, usually several weeks after the first blood test. Indeterminate results usually occur if the test is performed just as the person begins to seroconvert.

Text Box: HIV/AIDS QA