If you have any reason to think you may have been exposed to HIV/AIDS, you need to have HIV tests done quickly. HIV tests can be done at your local health center or you can even buy HIV tests online to complete at home. There are over 14,000 new cases every day, and this is just the numbers who have confirmed having an HIV tests or an AIDS test panel done.
While these can be daunting numbers, a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence. Many people who start treatment early go on to live for many years. Each year new developments are made in the study of HIV/AIDS. The sooner you get HIV tests completed, the sooner you can be on your way to finding help.
Most people who have HIV/AIDS aren't even aware they may have the disease until they start getting sick. The problem is, many other illnesses carry the same symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Never assume your doctor will test you if he thinks it's a possibility. Many people go for years being treated for the common cold without discovering the underlying cause of their illness is HIV/Aids.
The main thing to consider when deciding if you should have HIV tests done, is have you been exposed. There are a number of behaviors that can result in positive HIV Tests results. If you have had sex with, or shared needles with someone who tested positive for HIV/AIDS, you will definitely want to get HIV tests done. If you had a blood transfusion before 1985, you will need to be tested as well. HIV tests can tell you if you are carrying the HIV/AIDS virus.
While many people think they are getting an AIDS test done this is not the case. HIV tests are what you doctor will run. AIDS is considered as the final stage of HIV. An AIDS test would be something you doctor does in a series of tests after you have been diagnosed with HIV. AIDS is the point in HIV when your immune system has broke down to almost nothing, so there is no one AIDS test to tell you all the factors.
An AIDS test would be considered a series of testing different factors of your blood components. Having this AIDS test series done will not tell you that you are going to live or die. It will simply tell you that you have reached the later stages of the disease. Even after having a positive result with an AIDS test panels, you could go on to live many more years. Doctors use these AIDS test results to know where you are and what treatments you need. The AIDS test would be considered a diagnostic tool to let the doctor know how well you are responding to treatment.
Where Can I Test For HIV/ AIDS For Free?
One of the most common places to get free HIV testing is at your local health department clinic. These clinics are for people who may have no health insurance. Most of these clinics also offer free tests for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy as well.
Give the clinic a call to set up an appointment for HIV testing or to find out if the clinic allows for walk in appointments. Very busy clinics may require you to make an appointment. Clinics located near a low-income area are usually extremely busy and will require that you make an appointment. If you want a walk-in clinic, you might try another city close to you. Be advised HIV testing requires a blood sample. If you have a fear of needles, you may want to take a friend to offer you support.
Waiting for HIV testing results can be very stressful for some people. It will usually require a few days for HIV testing results to be available. Try not to think about it and keep your mind on other things. If you are simply taking the test as a precaution, it may not be as difficult to wait. However, if you think you have been exposed to HIV or AIDS, it may be more difficult to wait.
There are other ways to get free HIV testing done. There are AIDS centers throughout the country that offer free HIV testing. Many people do not feel comfortable asking their personal physician for HIV testing. This is where an AIDS center is there to help. Like local and state health departments, an AIDS center often offer free testing. However, the main difference between using an AIDS center and the health department is the support given after testing positive. The AIDS center is more likely to have resources available to offer someone who has just tested positive. The health departments can offer support as far as where to go and what to do after the positive HIV testing results, but an AIDS centers can offer counseling and information on available drugs, doctors, and the newest developments in HIV/AIDS research. You can also locate an AIDS center near you in your local phonebook, or on the internet.
Planned Parenthood also offers free HIV testing. Many times, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention partners with an AIDS center, community clinic, or AIDS organization to offer free testing. If you call 1-800-342-AIDS, this hotline can also help you located free testing in your area. There are several websites to help as well, such as http://www.hivtest.org or http://www.freehivtesting.gov. The last link is part of a city wide HIV testing campaign in New York City this year, but has many links to help you locate an HIV testing facility or an AIDS center.
On June 27, 2008, the Center for Disease Control partnered with the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) to host a National HIV Testing Day throughout the United States. Thousands of state and county health departments, AIDS centers, and community clinics offered free or reduced HIV testing. You can check out the NAPWA website at http://www.napwa.org/public/programs/nhtd.php for more information on testing sites and availability.
Early detection of AIDS is imperative to helping reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. If you think you are at risk for the HIV virus, get tested today.