Hours for HIV Testing

Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm by appointment - call 441-8065.
Thursday 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Walk-in (no appointment needed)

HIV testing is also included with STD Clinic tests: (no appointment needed)

Tuesday 1 pm - 3 pm
Thursday 5 pm - 7 pm

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What is HIV?

The virus that causes AIDS, a serious illness that harms the body's ability to fight infections.

Why is it important to learn about HIV?

Learning about this disease is the first step in preventing the spread of the infection to other people and protecting yourself. There is no known cure for HIV or AIDS.

A HIV infected sex partner or needle sharing partner doesn't have to look sick. People can spread the virus without knowing they have HIV.

How is HIV spread?
There are several ways that HIV is passed on:

• By having unprotected sex with an infected person through sexual intercourse.
• Sharing a needle or syringe with a person who may be infected
• From an infected mother to her baby, during pregnancy, or after birth through breast-feeding
• Through contaminated blood or blood products.
  (Today blood donors are carefully screened and all donors' blood and blood products are tested before being used.)

Anyone that is sexually active and having unprotected sex is at risk of becoming HIV infected or acquiring an STD. There are steps that individuals can choose to protect themselves from HIV the virus that leads to AIDS:

• One way is to not have sex (abstinence) or postpone sex.
• Avoid the exchange of blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk.
• If you choose to have sex use a condom consistently from start to finish.
• Get yourself and your partner(s) tested for STDs and HIV.

In using a condom:

• Always store in a cool, dry place.
• Always use a latex or polyurethane condom, every time you have sex.
• Condoms cannot protect you unless they are used properly.
• Handle the condom carefully.
• Be sure to squeeze any excess air out of the tip of the condom, where the semen will collect after ejaculation.
• Put the condom on as soon as the penis is erect, before intercourse or contact.
• Use a water-base lubricant with the condom for vaginal or anal sex.
• Never use oil-based lubricants (petroleum jelly, massage oils, or body lotion), they can cause latex condoms to break.
• Only use a condom once.

HIV is NOT spread through:

• Casual contact or through the air.
• Sitting next to someone.
• Touching, or from a social kiss.
• Eating in a restaurant.
• Sharing food, plates, cups, or utensils.
• Using restrooms, water fountains or telephones.
• Caring for a person with HIV/AIDS, if using caution when handling blood, semen, vaginal fluids, & breast milk.
• Donating Blood.
• Being bitten by mosquitoes or other insects.
  (The insect would die before having the chance to bite and infect another person).

What if my partner is infected?

Then you have choices to make. You can:

1. Abstain from sex this is the only sure way not to become infected with the virus, any other Sexually Transmitted Disease or get pregnant.
2. Restrict your sexual activity to those practices that do not require exchanging body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. Examples are dry kissing, masturbation, touching or massaging.
3. Always use a latex condom whenever you have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. Condoms are not foolproof, but when used properly and consistently they are highly effective in preventing HIV infection and other STDs.

Other ways to prevent HIV infection:

• Never share or reuse needles or syringes (your "works"). If you do, clean your works before and after each use.
  • Rinse with clean water several times.
  • Fill your works to the top with clean, full-strength Bleach, agitate/shake for about 30 seconds then squirt it out. Repeat this 3 times.
  • Fill with clean water and squirt it out. Repeat this 3 times.
  • Shake your works while cleaning them.
  • Never share or reuse cotton balls, cookers or other equipment.
• Don't mix alcohol or other drugs with sex. It can affect your judgement, making it more likely that you'll engage in risky sexual behavior.
• If you are using drugs and want help, call National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline 1-800-662-4357.

What are the Symptoms?

There may not be any symptoms for many years. If the infection progresses, there may be severe, long-lasting symptoms, such as:

• swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm or groin area.
• recurrent fever including "night sweats".
• rapid weight loss for no apparent reason.
• constant tiredness.
• diarrhea and decrease in appetite.
• white spots or unusual blemishes in the mouth.

These symptoms may be signs of another illness. If you or anyone you know has these symptoms for more than a week, a visit to the doctors office should be the next step.

Most people infected with HIV may go on to develop AIDS. Their immune system becomes severely weakened. Normally mild or rare diseases turn into potentially fatal conditions. One common illness of this type is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (a lung infection)

Is there a test for HIV and how does it work?

There are lab tests that can show if you are infected with HIV. The test checks to see if your body is making antibodies to fight HIV. If it is, then you've been infected with HIV. The test does not tell you if you have AIDS.

• A sample is taken of either blood or saliva from the mucous membrane in the mouth.
• The sample is tested for HIV antibodies. It usually takes the body about 25 days to 6 months to make enough HIV antibodies for the test to detect the infection.
• If HIV antibodies are found, it means you have tested "positive". The sample is retested.
• If the test is positive, a second different type of test is used to confirm the positive test result.
• It may take days or weeks to get your results depending on the test. A counselor will explain what your test result means.

HIV tests are reliable. The chances for inaccurate results are small, especially when testing is done more than 6 months after infection.

There are many benefits to being tested. If you're not infected the test can help you reduce stress and anxiety about being infected and you can protect yourself. Remember testing doesn't keep you safe. Understand the behaviors that put you at risk.

To be tested requires your informed consent. Which means you give your permission for the test, and your health care provider or testing site counselor has answered all your questions. Be sure you understand everything.

A positive test result means that you have been infected with HIV. Positive test results also mean that you can infect others. It does not mean that you have AIDS or will get AIDS soon, though this may happen. If you test positive:

• See a physician regularly who is supportive and is knowledgeable about AIDS.
• Find out about possible treatments through your physician or NIAID AIDS Clinical Trials Information Service 1-800-874-2572.
• Inform any sex partners and anyone you've shared drug needles with.
• Never share things that could become contaminated with blood.
• Never donate blood, plasma, sperm, organs or tissue.
• Get counseling.
• Follow the instructions from your counselor or health care provider to avoid infecting anyone else.
• Eat healthy foods, get rest and exercise.
• Postpone pregnancy (a family planning agency can provide information and help).

A negative test result means no sign of HIV infection has been detected. You may be advised to have other tests at later dates.

If you have any reason to think you've been exposed to HIV, consult your health care provider, state or local health department. They can arrange for testing. Don't donate blood in order to be tested. The earlier HIV infection is detected the sooner treatment can begin.

There is no need to avoid public or private places just because you are infected with HIV or AIDS. There has been NO evidence to prove that this virus can be spread through casual contact.

If used properly, the latex or polyurethane condoms are the only contraceptive methods that are proven to prevent the spread of HIV or AIDS virus. No other type of contraceptives (diaphragm, sponge, etc.) prevent HIV infection.

HIV antibody testing is available at Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. Both Confidential and Anonymous testing are offered through the HIV clinic. Only confidential testing is offered through the STD clinic.

You can get more information about HIV and AIDS from the following sources:

• Local Health Department or Doctor's office
• National AIDS Hotline
  • English - 1-800-342-2437
  • Spanish - 1-800-344-7432
  • TDD - 1-800-243-7889
• National AIDS Clearinghouse - 1-800-458-5231

Protect yourself and others!! Get the FACTS!