Question
Why does i-Base not answer questions on HIV testing and transmission?
28 January 2024. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.
Hi i-Base, I have sent several questions about HIV testing and you only send links to information online. Why don’t you answer these questions?
Answer
Thanks.
i-Base is a project focused on HIV treatment. Our services are really for people who are HIV positive and who want to know about treatment.
We sometimes answer questions about both PrEP and PEP, but please look at online info first as most questions are already answered
We are not a service for people worried about their risk of HIV.
We are not a service about HIV testing.
We care, but we are not set up for this. Please use our website (see below) – or ask your doctor or your local clinic these questions.
We understand the need for good information about HIV risks and HIV testing – so we developed other very detailed resources.
- This FAQ page answers most questions about testing: when to test, differences to test and simple questions about risk.
- This online booklet on HIV risk and testing has even more detailed information. It will answer any other question about HIV transmission and HIV testing.
- This link has information on U=U: undetectable=untransmittable. It explains why effective HIV treatment means there is ZERO risk to partners, even if you don’t use a condom.
- The UK guide to PrEP has information about a simple way HIV negative people can protect themselves against HIV, even if you don’t use a condom.
- We have a new online factsheet about PEP. If your question is about PEP, please look here first.
- If you don’t believe your negative test result, please this link: feelings of guilt about sex and recent encounters.
Together these resources will answer nearly EVERY question you have about risks of catching HIV and how to test. If you have a question that is not already answered we will still answer you and incorporate the answers into the FAQ page for others.
Because these answers are already online we do not answer testing questions individually. i-Base we just don’t have these resources to do this.
i-Base is an information service but not an advice service – and there is an important difference. We provide easy to understand information that is accurate and up-to-date. This is so that you can then make their own informed decisions – with your doctor. The info makes it easier to have an active role in your own health.
We are almost 40 years into the HIV epidemic, so everyone who is sexually active needs to have good information about their health. Just as we encourage HIV positive people to understand their own health, we have the same approach for HIV negative people.
The information is online. If you want the answer you have to read it.
Happy reading …
Note: this question was first answered in September 2016 but the page is often updated to keep it as a recent question.
Hi Goitsimang,
Please see questions 5 and 6 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I found out that i am hiv when i was pregnant for with my second child. His father he got tested after having our child. He was negative after his test.I got my son tested and he’s negative,how can i trust all this?
Hi Sara,
If your partner is negative and you haven’t had sex with anyone else, I would have another test. If that is positive then I do not know how you became infected.
Hi I’ve lived with my boyfriend for 6 years. I have’t had sex with anyone other than him. When we recently tested, mine was positive, his negative. How can this be?
Hi Umar, I don’t know what you mean by LVS. Please see question 1 at this link for more information:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi,does reactive LVS test mean a serious Hiv infection or could be treted with drugs,and what sre the drugs please,
Am trying to help a brother whose lvs test was given ss reactive,thanks,
Umar
Hi James, the first response to this and all similar emails is:
1. That you have no right to make another person take an HIV test, especially if it is just to put your own mind at rest.
The second response is:
2. To ask about how your previous partner is now?
– How is she coping with the news that she is HIV positive?
– How is she coping with the new you forced on to her, perhaps at a time when this wasn’t the best for her?
– Does this woman have appropriate health care and access to medicine?
– What is her current CD4 count?
– Does she know other people who are HIV positive who can support her?
These are the two appropriate questions for this i-Base service, and yet you were concerned about neither of them.
I have sex with a lady and the condom broke after a month i took her to hospital where she tested hiv test and the result was positive and during the sex i did not ejaculate or release sperm on her but went for test my result was negative all this while for over 8 months I have been going for test all my results was negative I want to ask should I stop testing or continues having test? I seek your advice.
Hi Aeman,
Please see question 1 at the FAQ link:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hello Doctor I abode relationship with a woman and two months later I got sick appeared on the symptoms of fever, diarrhea, rash and pain in the joints and fatigue in for two weeks did not think the placement of AIDS after five months of relationship I read about AIDS and eased analyzed Eliza appeared negative result I came back the analysis after four months after the first analysis after 9 months of the relationship negative result appeared Is this the result of a final result or not and whether the relationship was re-solution after a year Note than two months for now the emergence of symptoms of neck pain and numbness in the fingers and pain in the throat Thank you