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1 North Main Street
Bel Air, Maryland 21014
Phone: (443) 638-3060
HIV TESTING:
The Harford County Health Department offers free confidential and/or anonymous HIV Counseling and Testing Services. It is important for people to know their risks and learn how to reduce chances for HIV/ AIDS exposure. Call (410) 638-8400 or (410) 638-3060 for an appointment. You can request confidential (name provided) or anonymous (no name) services.
Several HIV testing methods are available. Not all require blood to be drawn. Oral swab samples can be used instead.
- The OraQuick HIV test gives a 20 minute result using a swab from the mouth.
- The OraSure HIV test also uses a mouth swab sample and results take 1-2 weeks.
- A standard blood test is also available and test results can take 1-2 weeks.
Case Management Services:
The Harford County Health Department offers comprehensive case management services for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Case Managers offer counseling and resource and entitlement referrals. Referrals are accepted from HIV positive individuals (self-referral), physicians, hospitals, and other psycho-social and medical providers. For more information or to obtain a free copy of the Harford County HIV/AIDS Resource Guide, call (410)638-3060 or (410) 879-0205.
Resources for People Living with HIV/AIDS:
Harford County Health Department Case Managers assist persons living with HIV/AIDS with referrals to a variety of resources. Patients/clients work closely with Case Managers to receive the following services:
- Medical Care
- Direct Emergency Financial Voucher Assistance
- Transportation Services
- Legal Assistance
- Psychological Counseling
- Moveable Feast: Groceries To Go
- MADAP/MADAP Plus, and MAIP
- Medical Assistance
- PAC (Pharmacy Assistance and Primary Care Services)
- MHIP
- Support Group
- Prevention With Positives--Individual and Group Counseling
Seropositive Clinic
The Harford County Health Department offers primary care to HIV/AIDS patients on a biweekly basis. Comprehensive primary medical care services are offered to patients including lab work and referrals to specialty care. A variety of insurance plans are accepted with special consideration given to persons who are uninsured. Contact (410) 638-3060 or (410) 879-0205 for further information.
Support Group
The Harford County Health Department facilitates a support group for persons living with HIV/ AIDS. For further information call (410) 638-3060 or (410) 879-0205 and ask to speak to a Case Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions About HIV:
Additional Resources
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This virus is responsible for causing the syndrome we know as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV is a very weak virus and cannot survive long outside the body. Therefore, it can only be contracted through contact between an infected individual and an uninfected individual which involves the sharing of certain body fluids. HIV is passed on to another person ONLY when blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, or other body fluids containing blood enter another persons body. HIV IS NOT transmitted by saliva, urine, tears, feces, vomit, and sweat.
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How do you get HIV?
You CAN get HIV from:
- Sharing needles and syringes for any reason (drugs, tattooing, body piercing, steroids).
- Sharing any drug paraphernalia (cookers, cotton/filters, straws, etc.) used to snort or inject drugs.
- Having sex (vaginal, oral or anal) without a latex male condom or female condom (unprotected) with someone infected with HIV (you will most likely not know that they are HIV +).
- Having sex with multiple partners or having sex with someone who has had several partners, or whose sexual history you do not know increases your risk for HIV.
- Perinatal transmission From an infected mother to her newborn during pregnancy, delivery or postpartum, either from infected blood, vaginal secretions, or from breast milk.
- Exposure to blood through profession (health care workers) or cult activities (vampire practices)
You DO NOT get HIV from:
- mosquito bites and other bug bites (ticks, lice, etc.)
- sharing toilets, telephones, office equipment, or clothes
- hugging, touching, kissing or sharing cups and utensils with a person with HIV
- attending school, and going to any public place with HIV infected people
- working with someone who is infected with HIV
SAFER BEHAVIOR:
- Abstain from having sex and from using drugs.
- If you are having sex, be sure you and your partner are not having sex with anyone else (are faithful to each other) and you have both been tested for HIV and other STDs.
- If you are unsure of your partners HIV status or are not in a faithful relationship, use condoms every time you have oral, vaginal or anal sex.
- Do not share needles for any reason. If you do share needles sterilize them with bleach.
The following are behaviors that increase your chances of getting HIV. If you answer yes to any of them, you should definitely get an HIV test. If you continue with any of these behaviors, you should be tested every year. Talk to a health care provider about an HIV testing schedule that is right for you.
- Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared equipment (such as needles, syringes, works) with others?
- Have you had unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with men who have sex with men, multiple partners, or anonymous partners?
- Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
- Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis, tuberculosis (TB), or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), like syphilis?
- Have you had unprotected sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions?
If you have had sex with someone whose history of sex partners and/or drug use is unknown to you or if you or your partner has had many sex partners, then you have more of a chance of being infected with HIV. Both you and your new partner should get tested for HIV, and learn the results, before having sex for the first time.
For women who plan to become pregnant, testing is even more important. If a woman is infected with HIV, medical care and certain drugs given during pregnancy can lower the chance of passing HIV to her baby. All women who are pregnant should be tested during each pregnancy.
The Harford County Health Department offers free confidential and/or anonymous HIV Counseling and Testing Services. It is important for people to know their risks and learn how to reduce chances for HIV/ AIDS exposure. Call (410) 638-8400 or (410) 638-3060 for an appointment.
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How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?
Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies your body makes against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect and this time period can vary from person to person. This time period is commonly referred to as the window period. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 2 to 8 weeks (the average is 25 days). Even so, there is a chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. Therefore, if the initial negative HIV test was conducted within the first 3 months after possible exposure, repeat testing should be considered >3 months after the exposure occurred to account for the possibility of a false-negative result. Ninety seven percent will develop antibodies in the first 3 months following the time of their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV.
Another type of test is an RNA test, which detects the HIV virus directly. The time between HIV infection and RNA detection is 9-11 days. These tests, which are more costly and used less often than antibody tests, are used in some parts of the United States.
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How do HIV tests work?
Once HIV enters the body, the immune system starts to produce antibodies (chemicals that are part of the immune system that recognize invaders like bacteria and viruses and mobilize the body's attempt to fight infection). In the case of HIV, these antibodies cannot fight off the infection, but their presence is used to tell whether a person has HIV in his or her body. In other words, most HIV tests look for the HIV antibodies rather than looking for HIV itself. There are tests that look for HIV's genetic material directly, but these are not in widespread use.
The most common HIV tests use blood to detect HIV infection. Tests using saliva or urine are also available. Some tests take a few days for results, but rapid HIV tests can give results in about 20 minutes. All positive HIV tests must be followed up by another test to confirm the positive result. Results of this confirmatory test can take a few days to a few weeks.
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What are the different HIV screening tests available in the United States?
In most cases the EIA (enzyme immunoassay), used on blood drawn from a vein, is the most common screening test used to look for antibodies to HIV. A positive (reactive) EIA must be used with a follow-up (confirmatory) test such as the Western blot to make a positive diagnosis. There are EIA tests that use other body fluids to look for antibodies to HIV. These include:
- Oral Fluid Tests use oral fluid (not saliva) that is collected from the mouth using a special collection device. This is an EIA antibody test similar to the standard blood EIA test. A follow-up confirmatory Western Blot uses the same oral fluid sample.
- Urine Tests use urine instead of blood. The sensitivity and specificity (accuracy) are somewhat less than that of the blood and oral fluid tests. This is also an EIA antibody test similar to blood EIA tests and requires a follow-up confirmatory Western Blot using the same urine sample.
Rapid Tests:
A rapid test is a screening test that produces very quick results, in approximately 20 minutes. Rapid tests use blood from a vein or from a finger stick, or oral fluid to look for the presence of antibodies to HIV. As is true for all screening tests, a reactive rapid HIV test result must be confirmed with a follow-up confirmatory test before a final diagnosis of infection can be made. These tests have similar accuracy rates as traditional EIA screening tests. Please visit the rapid HIV testing section for details.
Home Testing Kits:
Consumer-controlled test kits (popularly known as "home testing kits") were first licensed in 1997. Although home HIV tests are sometimes advertised through the Internet, currently only the Home Access HIV-1 Test System is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. (The accuracy of other home test kits cannot be verified). The Home Access HIV-1 Test System can be found at most local drug stores. It is not a true home test, but a home collection kit. The testing procedure involves pricking a finger with a special device, placing drops of blood on a specially treated card, and then mailing the card in to be tested at a licensed laboratory. Customers are given an identification number to use when phoning in for the results. Callers may speak to a counselor before taking the test, while waiting for the test result, and when the results are given. All individuals receiving a positive test result are provided referrals for a follow-up confirmatory test, as well as information and resources on treatment and support services.
RNA Tests
RNA tests look for genetic material of the virus and can be used in screening the blood supply and for detection of very early infection rare cases when antibody tests are unable to detect antibodies to HIV.
For a list of HIV tests that are FDA-approved, visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
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If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my sex partner is HIV negative also?
No. Your HIV test result reveals only your HIV status. Your negative test result does not indicate whether or not your partner has HIV. HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time you have sex. Therefore, your taking an HIV test should not be seen as a method to find out if your partner is infected.
Ask your partner if he or she has been tested for HIV and what risk behaviors he or she has engaged in, both currently and in the past. Think about getting tested together.
It is important to take steps to reduce your risk of getting HIV. Not having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid HIV. If you choose to be sexually active, having sex with one person who only has sex with you and who is uninfected is also effective. If you are not sure that both you and your partner are HIV negative, use a latex condom to help protect both you and your partner from HIV and other STDs. Studies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not 100%, in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the male or female can be used.
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What if I test positive for HIV?
If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. There are a number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your health:
- See a licensed health care provider, even if you do not feel sick. Try to find a health care provider who has experience treating HIV. There are now many medications to treat HIV infection and help you maintain your health. It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities.
- Have a TB (tuberculosis) test. You may be infected with TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness, but it can be successfully treated if caught early.
- Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, or using illegal drugs (such as methamphetamines) can weaken your immune system. There are programs available that can help you stop or reduce your use of these substances.
- Get screened for other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Undetected STDs can cause serious health problems. It is also important to practice safe-sex behaviors so you can avoid getting STDs. Visit Health Promotion and Disease Control's STD page.
There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learn all that you can about maintaining good health.
Not having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid transmitting HIV to others. If you choose to have sex, use a latex condom to help protect your partner from HIV and other STDs. Studies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not 100%, in preventing HIV transmission when used correctly and consistently. If either partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the male or female can be used.
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I'm HIV positive. Where can I get information about treatment?
The Harford County Health Department offers comprehensive case management services for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Case Managers offer counseling and resource and entitlement referrals. Referrals are accepted from HIV positive individuals (self-referral), physicians, hospitals, and other psycho-social and medical providers. For more information or to obtain a free copy of the Harford County HIV/AIDS Resource Guide, call (410)638-3060 or (410) 879-0205.
Detailed information on specific treatments is available from the Department of Health and Human Services' AIDSinfo. Information on enrolling in clinical trials is also available at AIDSinfo. You may contact AIDSinfo by phone at 1-800-448-0440 (English and Spanish) or 1-888-480-3739 (TTY).
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Why does CDC recommend HIV screening for all pregnant women?
HIV testing during pregnancy is important because antiviral therapy can improve the mothers health and greatly lower the chance that an HIV-infected pregnant woman will pass HIV to her infant before, during, or after birth. The treatment is most effective for babies when started as early as possible during pregnancy. However, there are still great health benefits to beginning treatment even during labor or shortly after the baby is born.
CDC recommends HIV screening for all pregnant women because risk-based testing (when the health care provider offers an HIV test based on the providers assessment of the pregnant womans risk) misses many women who are infected with HIV. CDC does recommend providing information on HIV (either orally or by pamphlet) and, for women with risk factors, referrals to prevention counseling. Refer to the Public Health Service Task Force Recommendations for Use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Pregnant HIV-1-Infected Women for Maternal Health and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV-1 Transmission in the United States for more information.
HIV testing provides an opportunity for infected women to find out that they are infected and to gain access to medical treatment that may help improve their own health. It also allows them to make informed choices that can prevent transmission to their infant. For some uninfected women with risks for HIV, the prenatal care period could be an ideal opportunity for HIV prevention and subsequent behavior change to reduce risk for acquiring HIV infection. For more information, refer to the Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings.
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