HIV- Potential Causes, Symptoms, Tests & Your Rights

The Human immunodeficiency virus incapacitates and increases the chance of acquiring AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Someone who has HIV may not necessarily acquire AIDS; however, with a debilitated immune system, several kind of infections and cancers can easily pounce on.

For many, HIV infected patients, the amelioration to AIDS is pretty slow and it may take several years for AIDS to develop, hence it may call for quite a few hiv tests to diagnose AIDS.

Potential Causes of HIV-

 In Australia, unprotected sex and sharing needles are the most common causes of AIDS. Other potential causes of AIDS are:

– Blood transfusions- especially if performed in Australia between 1980-1985

– From an HIV infected mother to the child

– Unsafe oral sex between male and female can also be a cause of AIDS. It has relatively low transmission rate though.

– Sharing needles or needle stick injury can also cause AIDS to come about.

Symptoms of HIV-

The symptoms of HIV are pretty close to commonly known illnesses. If you suspect that you are suffering from any of the symptoms below, then you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

– Constant and Extreme Tiredness

– Diarrhoea

– Reduced Appetite

– Continuous Coughing

– Meteoric Weight Loss

What If you Are HIV Positive?

Prevention is better than cure, hence if you suspect you may be HIV positive, you must soon get a test done. There are numerous ways of getting HIV testing done, HIV home test kit being one of the safest and confidential methods. A test kit allows you to carry out HIV testing from the comfort of your home without putting confidentiality at risk or worrying about probable humiliation. A positive result can trigger the feelings of anxiety, distress, shock or anger, hence the clinics offering HIV testing must make counselling top priority before and after the test is carried out.

Know Your Rights Before Going For a Test-

Before you choose to get HIV testing done at your doctor’s surgery or a sexual health clinic, you must be aware of your rights. Your test must be voluntary and carried out with your consent. You should be informed about what’s involved in the test, including the procedure and duration. It’s against the law to discriminate against the HIV infected and hence not only tests results but also the fact that one underwent any test must be kept confidential.

Using HIV Self-test Kits for Privacy

HIV infection is epidemic in Australia. Over the years, diagnosed cases increase and are still going up. The statistics only determine the numbers of those who are diagnosed. But what about the undiagnosed ones?

Shame and embarrassment are the most common causes for people to not undergo HIV tests. Because this is contacted most commonly through sexual intercourse, diagnosed patients or even those who are found out to undergo a test are ridiculed and are unpleasantly branded and misjudged.

The misfortunes of the at-risk people are now finally over. If you are at-risk and want to take a test without anyone you don’t want to know knowing, HIV self-test kits are for you.

What are HIV self-test kits?

Self-test kits are exactly what their names imply. They are set of medical tools you can use to perform HIV tests yourself.

In the past, tests are only conducted in clinics and hospitals by physicians. Now, HIV test kits that are mobile and are designed to be used yourself are now available in the market. With its portability, you are given the choice on where to conduct the grueling test which could alter your whole life.

HIV self-test kits appear like pregnancy home test kits found on the shelves on pharmacies. A drop of blood is only needed to generate results which appear for as fast as 10 minutes. They are also accurate and are reliable source in determining your probable HIV diagnosis.

Are HIV home test kits accurate.

The simple answer is yes, extremely. The HIV home test kits supplied today by companies such as Head Start Testing detect the bodies HIV ant-bodies. These can only be produced as a reaction to the HIV virus. The home HIV test kits also have a “failed test” indicator that will ensure that there is no confusion between a failed test and an actual test result. The HIV home test kits are > 99% accurate and can give you  your HIV result in less than 5 minutes. They are produced under ISO and GMP standards in a certified manufacturing plant.  Each HIV home test kit contains clear and simple to follow instructions. If you are worried about HIV symptoms or your previous sexual history may have exposed you to the HIV virus then you should test immediately. Either contact your GP or local STD testing center of purchase HIV self-test kits from Head Start testing.

Apart from practicing safe sex, early detection is the most valuable weapon against the spread of HIV. More testing saves lives.

HIV Self-testing, what about counselling.

Many individuals choose to self-test for HIV with a HIV home test kit from Head Start Testing. By doing so they are of course electing to go through the testing process without the benefit of an experienced counsellor. For many this is a sacrifice they are willing to make in exchange for faster and more private and convenient HIV testing. For others it is a concern. If you are considering HIV self-testing through Head Start testing or any other online supplier of HIV home test kits than please visit http://napwa.org.au/services for details of the services available to you within the HIV landscape. There are numerous pre testing and post testing services that can be beneficial beyond of course the specific medical advise you will require in the event of a positive result.

can’t sleep? anxiety is mounting? Did that prostitute look like she had HIV?

Worried about HIV status. Here is a common path, with 3 possible outcomes in Australia.

You realise that stupidly you have put yourself at risk of HIV infection. Possibly you are married or in a relationship and this risk was outside that relationship. Privacy is critical for you and seems to be overriding the common sense argument, which is simply to get tested, get tested now. Maybe you just feel embarrassed admitting this to anyone, even your doctor.

 

Previously, in fact just a few years ago in Australia you had two options. Sadly only two and as a result, tragically many chose option two.

Option 1. Chin up, walk into your doctor or STD clinic and explain your worry about HIV, take the test, wait a day or a few days for the result.

Option 2. Do nothing. Delay testing in the hope that something you know not to make sense will happen, or just time will somehow reduce the gravity of the reality you face. As crazy as this sounds, this is an option many took, It resulted in them, knowing they had potentially been exposed, yet continuing life (including sex) as if they had not.

Fortunately we have option 3.

Purchase a HIV home test kit from www.HeadStartTesting.com and test  yourself for HIV in privacy at your own convenience. Nobody will argue that this does not have the down side of no medical assistance and no counselling. But given that option 2 not testing fro HIV was the only alternate to option 1. It is infinitely better than that. More HIV testing saves lives.

How do HIV home test kits work?

HIV test kits now allow users to carry out HIV testing at home with privacy and convenience. They are very accurate and will give results in minutes as to the HIV status of an individual. This not only reduces the chances of HIV spreading but goes a long way to lowering the stress felt by many during the HIV testing process.

The test kits work by the introduction of the individual’s blood. This is gathered after a small pin prick using a device included in the test kits. A drop of blood is collected, placed in the test kit along with a diluents liquid (all of which is included). The diluted blood spreads over the internal test strip and reacts with the coating to show a single red line, this indicates the test has worked and that it has enough blood to detect the HIV antibodies it present in the individual’s blood. The 2^nd red line which indicates an HIV positive result is only made visible by a reaction with an antigen and the HIV antibodies. If the blood does not have this, then the 2^nd line does not appear and the test is a single red line, being negative.

These HIV test kits are very accurate and the results are fast and very clear. HIV testing through this method is convenient and is encouraging many to test who may otherwise put off testing or not test for HIV at all.

And for the future. A new generation of test kits is being tested now that will react with eth virus itself and not the antibodies. This test s can reduce, although not dramatically the HIV testing window and allow for earlier detection. They should be mature enough for general home HIV testing by 2014.

What to do in Australia if you are concerned that your previous sexual partner may have been HIV positive?

Regrettably this is a common concern for individuals that participate in unprotected sex.  Upon layer reflection they’re faced with the reality that their sexual partner may have been HIV positive.  And this can be a cause of considerable anxiety as well as of course a risk of HIV infection.

The only way to be truly certain-individual is infected with HIV this through carrying out a suitable HIV test.  In Australia individuals can test for the HIV virus through a medical centre where they will receive counseling in addition to the test.  Another alternative is through the purchase of an HIV home test kit in Australia.  This HIV test kit can be used at home and will deliver accurate results within minutes.  Regardless of the testing the effect that the individual selects it is important to remember that it can take between three and six months to develop detectable HIV antibodies.  Many individuals will develop antibodies within four weeks and these can be detected with an HIV test.  As a result of many individuals using HIV test kits at home in Australia will test at four week intervals until they have passed the antibody window period.  Companies such as Head Start Testing supply ISO and GMP quality certified HIV home test kits.  These HIV test kits are manufactured under certified quality controlled conditions and will give accurate results to the HIV status of an individual within the minutes.  So if you are uncertain of the HIV status of a previous sexual partner it is essential that you take a test as soon as possible.

Australian Scientists say they have made a breakthrough that could lead to a potential cure for AIDS.

Of course this is wonderful news for those infected by the HIV virus as potentially it could represent a cure for AIDS.  Realistically the this potential cure will be several years away from implementation.

 

This still leaves us with the situation in Australia with more than 30,000 people that have been diagnosed with HIV.  With the disease such as HIV that can present few or no symptoms there will be a much higher number than this that are actually infected with the disease.

 

Still the greatest weapon against HIV is HIV testing.  Once diagnosed with HIV very few individuals will go on to infect others with this potentially deadly virus.  Untested and undiagnosed HIV positive individuals represent a severe health risk to the Australian public.

 

One method of HIV testing that is both convenient and private to individuals and as such growing in popularity is the use of HIV test kits or home test kits as they are sometimes called.  Purchasing and HIV home test kit in Australia is a simple and convenient process as they can be readily purchased through online vendors such as Head Start Testing.  Using an HIV test kit is a simple process that involves the introduction of a small sample of blood, normally one or two drops into a testing device that contains a reactant to the HIV antibodies.  The HIV home test kits clearly display a negative or a positive result to the HIV test and include a third result, they failed test.  When purchasing and HIV test kit for private HIV testing it is essential that you select a product that has been manufactured under GMP and ISO standards. 

HIV home Testing kits in Australia. Are they accurate and where can I purchase them from.

The accuracy of the HIV test kit in Australia depends greatly on the manufacturing process of the test kit.  It is essential that you purchased estimates that a manufacturer of under the GMP and ISO quality standards.  These standards ensure production of the HIV test kits is carried out in a controlled and supervised environment that is compliant with the governing bodies guidelines.  It also ensures that the manufacturer follows consistent practices to ensure the final product is of a consistent quality.

For the HIV home testing kits are sold by Head Start Testing are produced under the standards in as a result of highly accurate easy to use and reliable.  They test for both the subtype one and subtype two HIV virus and include a positive and negative and failed test result which removes the risk of an incorrectly carried out test giving a test result that could be a false negative or a false positive.  These HIV home testing kits are being widely used by the Australian public in the one valuable step towards increasing the percentage of the population who choose to test for HIV falling risk of possible infection.  Regardless of which city in Australia you are in the HIV home testing kits can be shipped to you discreetly so that you may carry out your HIV test in total privacy and actual own convenience.

Where to test for HIV in Australia?

Fortunately in Australia there are several options available to individuals concerned about the HIV status.  Quite often the primary point of contact will be your regular medical practitioner.  From there you will generally be referred to a medical centre for blood testing and then return to your medical practitioner to receive the results.  Addition if you are considering an HIV test you can visit STD clinic or AIDS clinic. Many of these clinics now use the rapid test kits for convenience and speed of results.  If you prefer to carry out your HIV test with more privacy or possibly more convenience than you can purchase these HIV test kits online in Australia from suppliers such as Head Start Testing.  The test  kits are manufactured in a quality controlled environment under the ISO and GMP standards.  It is important to remember when self testing for HIV that whilst you enjoy more privacy and convenience you will forgo the valuable service of counseling.  Of many individuals testing for HIV in Australia find counseling an essential support to the HIV testing process.  Others prefer the privacy of testing by themselves knowing that in the event of a positive result they still have access to the same counseling services after they have consulted by a medical practitioner.  Whichever of the HIV testing methods you choose it is essential that you remember that there is a delay between HIV infection and HIV detection.  This is referred to as the HIV window or infection window period.  As such if you are concerned that you may have been infected with HIV virus it is important that you stop any sexual contact until you are certain of your HIV status.  The only way to the truly certain of your HIV status is to carry out an HIV test.

HIV Test – Privacy V2

If you thought you had a life threatening disease that responded to treatment, would you go to the doctor or would you risk leaving it undetected?

Chances are that your immediate answer is Yes. However if that concern is that you may be showing symptoms of HIV or you had un-protected sex and are worried you may have been exposed to the HIV virus, then you may be one of many people who don’t seek medical advice.

Std testing is a very common practice so why are so many individuals putting of their HIV test.

It seems logical to assume that those who know they have been at risk of contracting HIV, and chose not to test do so for reasons of privacy and convenience. After all, in Australia we have a variety of reliable, fairly accessible HIV testing options available to us. These facilities are normally accompanied with pre and post result counselling. Often there is no charge for these tests and they can also be carried out anonymously. But still, many at risk choose to not test, or simply put it off until it is too late and they have infected others. The only logical reason for doing that must be a privacy issue. Many who are worried about HIV symptoms or HIV infection simply can’t bring themselves to face another (even their doctor) and explain their situation.

With that assumption in place it is impossible to not see value in HIV home testing kits as offered by Head Start Testing. Properly manufactured, supplied and used they are accurate, private and fast.  Whatever % of those at risk who do not test for privacy, they now have an alternate way to test for HIV at home. If http://www.HeadStartTesting.com can get x% of them tested, we are making progress.