Should I get tested for HIV?
If you are wondering if you should get tested for HIV, you should talk to an HIV testing counselor, who will provide you with pre-test counseling. At the CORE Center, the HIV test counselor is called a health educator.
What happens in pretest counseling?
The HIV health educator will ask questions about your medical history and personal risk behavior. For example, have you been diagnosed and treated with any sexually transmitted diseases? Have you been tested for HIV in the past? What types of sexual behaviors have you engaged in, now or in the past? Have you injected drugs, such as heroin or cocaine, and shared needles or works with other users? Have you traded sex for money or drugs? The purpose asking these highly personal and intimate questions is to both assess your risk for HIV and counsel you on how to reduce any risky behaviors you may engage in.
The health educator will thoroughly explain the type of HIV test that is done, and what the test results mean. This pretest counseling should be done under strict confidentiality. After all of your questions have been answered, the health educator will ask you if you want to go ahead with HIV testing. If you do, the health educator will ask you to read and sign a consent form to show your agreement with HIV testing. You will get a copy of the consent for your own records.
I had some blood tests done for my high blood pressure a few months ago. At a neighborhood doctor's office, don't they do the HIV test at the same time?
No. The HIV test has to be specifically ordered. Most doctors in the state of Illinois will tell you that they are ordering an HIV test on you, although the law does not require that they get your consent. However, at the CORE Center, cook county hospital and all the cook county health facilities, HIV testing is done only with counseling and your informed consent.
Who will be given the test results? What if my boyfriend or mother or boss calls to get my results? Or, can someone besides me find out if I had the test?
HIV testing at the CORE Center and at cook county hospital is done under strict standards of confidentiality. This means that only you will know that you got tested, and only you can get the results in person. No one except you can get your HIV test results.
I am pretty busy. Can I get my HIV test results over the phone?
No. No one can get HIV test results over the phone. It is very important that the test results are thoroughly explained to you by your health educator. It is important that you speak face to face with her or him, so you can ask any question you may have.
How long will it take to get HIV test results?
It takes about 2 weeks for the test results to return to your HIV health educator. Once the sample of blood is received in the lab, an HIV screening test is done. If the screening test is negative, no further testing is done and the test results are negative for HIV. If the screening test is positive, the screening test is repeated. If the second screening test is also positive, a third test, called a western blot test, is done on the blood. If the western blot test is positive, the HIV test is positive for the HIV antibody.
How can I cope with the stress of waiting two weeks for my test HIV results?
Waiting for test results can be very stressful. We suggest that you try to distract yourself. For example, you could exercise, go see a movie, read a book, talk to a friend. If you cannot stop worrying about the test results, and you want someone to talk to, you can call up your HIV health educator or call the national HIV information hotline at 1-800-aid-aids for anonymous counseling.
What will happen when I come for my test results?
Your HIV health educator will tell you the results of your HIV antibody test. If your results are negative, it means that no antibodies for the HIV virus were found. If you believe that you were exposed to HIV in the last 3-6 months, your HIV health educator will advise you to get tested in 3 months. She or he will talk to you about safer sex behavior, the use of condoms for men and women, and male condoms can be provided. Avoiding risky behaviors in using drugs and alcohol will also be explained.
What if my test results are positive for HIV?
Receiving positive HIV test results can be a stressful, shocking experience. The HIV health educator will help you figure out if there is anyone among your friends or relatives in whom you can confide. If you have no one in your life you feel you want to confide in, the HIV educator will refer you to a mental health counselor for emotional support during this stressful time.
If I have a positive test, how can I know how long I have been infected? How long will I live? What should I do next?
Your HIV health educator will make you an appointment with a medical provider in the CORE Center clinic. You will have blood drawn for HIV vial load testing, t-cells, and a whole battery of blood tests that will help determine your present state of health. The latest, up to date medical care will be available to you in the CORE Center clinic. The HIV health educator will explain to you the basics of medical care and treatment of people with HIV. In addition to medical care, case management services, mental health counseling, chaplain services and treatment for alcohol and drug abuse problems are available.
If I test positive, I am afraid to tell anyone. Do I have to tell?
It is a legal obligation to inform your sexual contacts they have been exposed to HIV. Your HIV health educator can help you think of ways to do this. If you feel uncomfortable about telling your contacts, the Chicago department of health can send a letter to them for you without using your name. You will provide names and addresses of your contacts. Your name will not be used in the letter the department of health sends to your contacts.
If friend, relative, or I want to be tested for HIV, what should we do?
Anyone, who wants HIV testing can call (312) 572-4800, the CORE Center HIV testing office number, to make an appointment. A person can also come to the CORE Center screening clinic without an appointment, and ask for HIV testing at the screening clinic. If you or your friend feels uncomfortable asking for an HIV test, you can simply ask for the health educator.
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