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The Home Access™ HIV-1 Test System
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS
(Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Home Access™ HIV-1 test system provides anonymous telephone access to counseling,
education and laboratory blood testing from the privacy of your home.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIDS AND HIV
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Nearly everyone who becomes
infected with HIV develops AIDS over a period of years. AIDS is a
serious condition in which the immune system is severely weakened,
turning normally mild or rare diseases into potentially fatal conditions.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TESTING FOR HIV
Anyone can become
infected with HIV. Most HIV-infected people look and feel healthy and have no
signs of being sick. It is possible for them to infect others without even
knowing it. It is a matter of what you do, not who you are. If you engage in
risky behaviors, you have a chance of being infected.
HOW HIV IS SPREAD
HIV is spread by sexual
contact with an infected person, by needle-sharing among injecting drug users,
or, very rarely through transfusions of infected blood products, organ
transplantation, or artificial insemination. Babies born to HIV-infected women
may become infected before or during birth, or through breast-feeding after
birth. However, HIV is most commonly spread through risky behaviors.
RISKY BEHAVIORS
The two most risky
behaviors are unprotected sex or sharing a needle or syringe. HIV can enter the
body through any type of sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal and oral
sex. Unprotected sex is sexual intercourse without proper use of a latex condom.
HIV may be found in semen, vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk of infected
individuals. Any contact with these body fluids puts you at risk.
Injecting drugs with a needle or syringe used by another person is risky because it can contain their blood. If that person is HIV-infected, you would be injecting HIV directly into your body. You do not get HIV from touching or hugging infected people or from sharing toilets or clothes with infected people. Because of widespread screening, the risk of transmission through blood transfusion and organ transplantation is extremely low.
AVOIDING HIV INFECTION
You can prevent the
spread of HIV or reduce the risk of transmission. The best prevention is
to not have sexual intercourse. If this is not an option for you, then risk
reduction is important. Risk can be reduced by having sex with only an
uninfected partner. You can further reduce your risk by properly using a latex
condom during anal, vaginal and oral intercourse. If you are not in a monogamous
relationship, you can also reduce risk by limiting your number of sex partners.
If you are a recreational drug user, the best prevention is not to use injectable drugs. If this is not an option for you, then risk reduction is important. You can reduce your risk by using sterile needles, and by not sharing needles or other drug injection equipment. Enrolling in a drug treatment program can also help.
THE HIV-1 ANTIBODY TEST
The human body makes
antibodies to fight all kinds of infections. Your body creates HIV-1 antibodies
if you become infected with the HIV-1 virus. Our program tests your blood
specimen for antibodies to HIV-1.
Some people take longer than others to make antibodies to HIV-1. In most infected people, these antibodies will show up in the blood within three months. In some people, it can take up to six months or longer. This is important to know because the HIV-1 antibody tests cannot detect some recent infections. For example, if you became infected in January, you might not test positive until June. It is during this period of time when people can test negative for HIV-1 antibodies but still infect others.
TEST METHODS
Our program first
screens your blood specimen using a system called the Enzyme-Linked Immunoassay
(ELISA). If this screen is positive (repeatedly reactive), a more specific
confirmatory test, Immunofluoresence Assay (IFA) will be used. These are the
same tests used by doctors and hospitals.
TEST ACCURACY
In clinical trials
conducted at nine U.S. medical centers, test results from participants using the
Home Access HIV- 1 test system were compared to professionally collected venous
blood specimens from the same participants. There proved to be a complete
correlation between the two tests, yielding an overall test accuracy of greater
than 99.9% for the Home Access HIV-1 test program. This means that the Home
Access HIV-1 testing program is as accurate as tests used by doctors and
hospitals.
PROGRAM SUCCESS RATE
Clinical trial
participants demonstrated the ability 98% of the time to collect a blood spot
specimen of quantity and quality equal to medical professionals. If you have
difficulty collecting your specimen, counselors are available to assist you.
UNDERSTANDING TEST RESULTS
There are four possible
test results: "negative," "positive,"
"indeterminate" or "not tested".
A negative test result means that antibodies to HIV-1 were not found in the blood specimen you sent to the laboratory. A negative test result generally means you are not infected. However, some people take up to six months before antibodies to HIV-1 can be detected in their blood. During this time, it is possible for these people to test negative and still be infected.
A positive test result means that antibodies to HIV-1 were found in the blood specimen you sent to the laboratory. If you test positive, you should consider yourself infected with HIV-1 and seek medical care.
You are capable of passing the infection to others. Not all persons testing positive are actually infected with HIV-1. A very small percentage of people with other medical conditions may have false positive test results. A positive test result does not necessarily mean that you have AIDS or will ever develop AIDS. If you do test positive, there are many medicines available to slow down HIV-1, helping infected people live longer and healthier lives.
An indeterminate test result means the presence of HIV-1 antibodies could not be confirmed in the blood specimen you sent to the laboratory. You could be in the process of seroconversion, which is changing from a negative test result to a positive test result. Other medical conditions can make the test indeterminate. In either case, you will need to be retested. If you receive an indeterminate test result, it is recommended that you wait one to three months before being retested, and practice HIV prevention with your sexual and needle-sharing partners during this time.
A not tested result means the laboratory was not capable of completing the testing program on the specimen you sent to the laboratory. The laboratory cannot test your blood specimen if the blood specimen collection card becomes wet, soiled or contaminated. The circle on the filter paper must be completely filled with blood as directed. Be sure to ship your blood specimen as soon as possible after collection.
AVAILABILITY OF RESULTS
Your test results will
be available for up to 30 days after you first receive them. In addition, up to
three personal counseling sessions will be available for those found to be
negative, indeterminate, or not tested. For those testing positive, our program
offers up to six personal sessions in one year, referrals to health care
professionals, and support for partner notification.
PARTNER NOTIFICATION
If your test is
positive, it is your responsibility to notify your needle-sharing and/or sexual
partner(s). If you notify them yourself, our counselors can assist
you in developing a plan. Or, at your request, we can put you in contact with
the appropriate health department for assistance. You will not have to identify
yourself or your partner(s) to us.
COPING SKILLS
Do you have friends and
family to provide support if your test result is something other than what you
expected? Do you have doubts about your ability to handle your test result? Our
counselors are available to speak with you about any doubts you might have. They
can help you consider the following types of questions before sending in your
blood specimen:
"What do you expect your test result to be?"
"What would you do if your test result is positive?"
"Whom could you rely on for support if your test result is positive?"
"How do you plan to handle the waiting period for a result?"
LIVING WITH HIV
Every day, more people
are learning to live with HIV infection. People are staying healthier,
strengthening their immune systems, and developing positive attitudes. They are
finding that proper diet, moderate exercise, and stress management help. In
addition, early medical intervention with experienced practitioners can put time
on your side. With good medical care and proper treatment, HIV infection, while
not yet curable, can be manageable. New treatment techniques and medications are
being developed all the time. If you test positive for antibodies to HIV- 1, our
program will offer doctor, social service agency and support group choices that
can help you maintain control of your life. However, following up on these
referrals and getting into treatment is your responsibility.
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