Why is it Important to Get Tested?
We can combat HIV and AIDS by helping to stop the spread of the disease. One way to do this is by getting tested. According to a Washington Post article, more than 90 percent of people who are infected with AIDS today will not know it for eight years (Holbrooke, 2006). Eight years is a long time — countless other people can be infected unknowingly.
Know the facts. Know that if you are at risk for having HIV/AIDS, you should get tested. Know the truth. If you think you may be at risk for HIV, but are not sure, you should take the HIV Risk Assessment Survey.
To establish if a person has HIV, a lab test is performed which will identify HIV antibodies in the blood. If you have engaged in any of the following behaviors or if you have other reasons to believe you may be at risk for HIV it is imperative that you seek counseling and testing for HIV.
- Persons that have had unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex.
- Persons unsure about their sexual partner’s exposure.
- Persons who have shared needles to inject ANY substance into their own body.
- Sexual partners of injection drug users.
- Sexual partners of men who have sex with other men.
- Healthcare professionals with direct exposure to blood.
- Persons who have been incarcerated.
- Sexual partners of persons who have been incarcerated.
- Persons who have STD’s/STI’s.
- Victims of sexual abuse and/or rape.
- Persons who have tuberculosis or hepatitis C.
- Person’s with hemophilia.
- Sexual partners of persons with hemophilia.
- Pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant.
- Persons who received blood transfusions or other blood products between 1977 and 1985.
- Sexual partners of persons who received blood transfusions or other blood products between 1977 and 1985.
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