HIV Testing - What, How, Why, Who?

2. Testing

3. ? HIV TESTING WHAT? HOW? WHY? WHO?

4. HIV TEST LOOKS ONLY FOR ANTIBODIES NOT HIV VIRUS

5. Exposure WINDOW PERIOD

6. Exposure WINDOW PERIOD

7. HIV TESTER SHOULD HAVE 2 TESTS 3 – 6 MONTHS APART

9. Only after informed consent Always with pre-test counselling 1 Tube of blood taken by nurse / Doctor and sent to lab 2-10 Days before result available Post-test counselling important HIV TESTING HOW?

10. May relieve anxiety Could motivate behaviour change Allows for planning if positive Effective prevention of some opportunistic infections Earlier diagnosis and more effective management of AIDS-related problems Reduce risk of unknowingly spreading HIV to partner Can focus on healthy life style HIV TESTING WHY?

12. "Positive" result means the virus is in your body "Negative" result means either: You do not have the virus in your body OR The virus is in your body, but the test doesn't detect it because you are still in the window period If your test is negative, you should be TEST RESULTS ARE EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE

13. If you have AIDS When you are going to develop AIDS When you became infected How you became infected HIV+ TEST RESULTS CANNOT TELL YOU

14. Screening Test = ELISA , (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) This is a test designed to detect antibodies produced by the body to the HIV infection Usually positive 6 weeks to 6 months TESTING FOR HIV

15. ELISA Test

16. Confirmatory Test = Western Blot and IFA (immunofluorescence assay) Highly specific TESTING FOR HIV

17. You have not been infected with the AIDS virus - true negative You have been infected recently but you are still in the window period - false negative HIV NEGATIVE (-) TEST RESULT TELLS YOU THAT

18. Your body has produced anti-bodies that fight the HIV virus The virus is present in your blood and your body has formed antibodies HIV POSITIVE (+) TEST RESULT TELLS YOU THAT

19. ? INDETERMINATE HIV TEST RESULT MEANS QUESTION ABOUT YOUR HIV STATUS

21. WHO SHOULD BE TESTED? 1. All persons who have had more than one sexual partner in their lives or whose partner has had other sexual partners 2. All persons who have had sex outside of monogamous marriage, in any form, in the last 10 years 3. Persons who had sex with possible infected partners 4. Persons who had sex with prostitutes 5. IV Drug users

22. WHO SHOULD BE TESTED? 6. Persons who might have possibly been exposed to HIV infected needles,blades, knives or any other instrument/s 7. Persons who have been raped and/or molested by anyone in their life time 8. Persons who have had blood transfusions, particularly in the 1980’s before blood was more carefully screened. 9. Children who are born to possible infected mothers and/or breast fed by possible HIV infected mothers

23. LET’S ALL HELP TO TAKE THE STIGMA, FEAR AND DISCRIMINATION FROM HIV/AIDS

24. IF YOU’VE EACH BEEN AT RISK FOR HIV INFECTION GET TESTED

25. PRE-MARITAL HIV TESTING SHOULD BE DONE BY BOTH PARTNERS BEFORE MARRIAGE

27. WOMEN SHOULD BE HIV TESTED BEFORE GETTING PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING

28. HIV IN MOTHERS & NEWBORN INFANTS

29. TESTING ON MOTHER & NEWBORN BABY'S TEST MAY REFLECT MOTHER'S CONDITION

30. TESTING ON MOTHER & NEWBORN BABY'S TEST MAY NOT REFLECT MOTHER'S CONDITION

31. HIV INFECTED MOTHERS CAN GIVE THEIR BABY HIV

32. Before birth During birth After birth by breastfeeding 30-50% OF HIV-INFECTED MOTHERS WILL INFECT THEIR BABIES

33. THE BREAST MILK OF AN HIV MOTHER CAN INFECT HER BABY

34. HIV TESTING ON YOUNG CHILDREN CHILD'S TEST WILL BE MORE ACCURATE AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS

35. GOD CAN HEAL HIV INFECTION AIDS

36. TESTIMONIALS OF HEALING SHOULD BE MEDICALLY CONFIRMED