HIV/AIDS Definitions

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: August 23, 2009

FROM SUNDAY FLAIR

• With new medications HIV not an automatic death sentence

• HIV/AIDS Definitions

• Virginia HIV/AIDS facts and figures

• HIV/AIDS Timeline

AUDIO

Hear patients and a doctor talk about the symptoms, the stigma and changing treatments.

• Joy Blathers

• Mark A. Baker

• Dr. Daniel Nixon

TESTING

HIV testing sites: hivtest.org

Hotline: The Virginia HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis Hotline, (800) 533-4148, also provides information on resources and testing locations.

RESOURCES

Virginia HIV/STD/Viral Hepatitis Hotline: (800) 533-4148

Transformation Retreats Inc.; (804) 353-0060

Minority Health Consortium: (804) 225-0820

VCU HIV/AIDS Center; (804) 828-2210 or (800) 525-7605

The National Association of People with AIDS

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

FROM THE NEWSROOM

Richmond trials part of elusive hunt for HIV vaccine

MORE INFORMATION

• HIV Vaccine Trials Network

• Richmond AIDS Consortium

Definitions

HIV: human immunodeficiency virus , the virus that causes AIDS. HIV attacks the immune system by destroying CD4 positive (CD4+) T cells, a type of white blood cell that is vital to fighting off infection.

AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , the final stage of HIV infection. A person infected with HIV is diagnosed with AIDS when he or she has one or more opportunistic infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis, and has a dangerously low number of CD4+ T cells (less than 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood).

HIV/AIDS: three categories of HIV diagnoses collectively, regardless of AIDS status: 1) diagnosis of HIV infection without a subsequent AIDS diagnosis; 2) diagnosis of HIV infection and then a later diagnosis of AIDS; and 3) concurrent diagnosis of HIV infection and AIDS.

Confidential HIV testing: You provide your name, but the results of the test are confidential. Virginia law requires the names of people who test positive for HIV to be reported to the health department for disease control purposes only.

Anonymous HIV testing: You do not have to provide your real name or any identifying information. A special code is given to the client before testing so that results may be provided.

Types of tests: traditional and rapid tests using blood or oral fluids.