What's Happening at RAP?
WORLD AIDS WEEK-HIV/AIDS AWARENESS WEEK
An early reminder so that everyone marks their calendars for the week of December 1, 2008. The dedicated members of "Inspiring Community Awareness Now" ICAN are in full swing; organizing activities for this event. For more information on how to contact the ICAN members directly or for information on event details, attending upcoming ICAN planning meetings or how you as an individual or group might contribute to the occasion, please contact RAP!
NATIONAL TESTING DAY
While private practitioners and most local health departments offer confidential testing throughout the year, The National Testing Day gives RAP the opportunity to provide individuals with free confidential testing using the OraSure® (Oral Specimen Collection Device) test. The National Testing Day will be on Friday, June 27, 2008. The exact location and times are to be announced. Further details to come.
What is OraSure®?
- A HIV antibody, mouth swab test, which has been FDA approved
- It requires up to two weeks to get results
How is OraSure administered?
- By trained and certified personnel. A small pad on a plastic stick is placed between the gum and cheek, rubbed in a circular motion, and then allowed to remain in the closed mouth for 3 minutes. The pad is then placed in a container and sent to the State Health Laboratory where it is tested using techniques similar to those used with blood samples
How does OraSure work?
- The mouth swab does not test for HIV in saliva
- It does test for HIV antibodies, which would be present in the tissue of the gums and ceek if an HIV infection were present
How accurate is the test?
- OraSure mouth swab tests are very accurate
- Just as with blood tests, 6-12 weeks must pass after the infection has occurred before enough antibodies have been produced for the test to detect them
- An OraSure test perfored three months after the potentially infectious event (sex without a condom or shared intravenous drug needles/equipment) is about 95% accurate. A test at six months will be the most accurate
Do I have to give my name?
- Anonymous testing is not an option in outreach locations
- If you choose to test confidentially, your name and address are necessary and a form of ID is requested
- Insurance companies, employers, etc. do not have access to test information or results
- Only positive test information is shared with the state agency responsible for providing service to HIV positive persons
How do I get my results?
- They are provided in person (not by telephone), 10-14 days after the test is done
- If you lose the card with your individual test number and appointment time, you can still get your results using an ID that includes your birth date
- Those testing anonymously must retain their card and present it to receive results
Why get an HIV test?
- Knowing if you have HIV will allow you to protect your own health and to prevent others from becoming infected
- HIV infection responds best to medical treatments if they are begun as soon as possible after the infection takes place
- If you are infected, you can get the information and help you need to stay healthy
- By following safer sex and/or drug-use practices, you can protect others from HIV and stop the spread of the epidemic
2ND ANNUAL GROCERY RAFFLE
Simply put….food is good and summer in Kansas is the time to find the greatest seasonal foods, especially fresh things! As food costs seem to steadily rise, wouldn’t $200.00 worth of free groceries be nice? If you are not in need perhaps you know someone, an individual or a family, that would appreciate such a gift! Beginning May 25, 2008 until June 27, 2008, you can go to participating business locations and purchase a Grocery Raffle ticket for just $1.00. That is just $1.00 for a chance to win $200.00 of groceries for yourself or someone else that may really need it. On June 27, 2008 (National Testing Day) the winner will be announced and given a $200.00 certificate for groceries. Look for participating business posting!
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