Question
Why does i-Base not answer questions on HIV testing and transmission?
1 September 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 for people who are living with HIV and who want to know about treatment.
If you have a question about PrEP or PEP, please see these links:
We care, but we are not set up for this.
If you are worried about HIV or testing, please see the info linked below or ask your doctor or your local clinic.
Good info about HIV risk and HIV testing is important.
This is why we have detailed resources online. If you are feeling anxious or worried, HIV is not an easy virus to catch. The chance of becoming positive from having sex once is usually less than 1 in 100.
1. FAQ page
This FAQ page answers all your questions about testing. This includes when to test, different types of test and simple questions about risk.
2. Online booklet on HIV risk and testing
This online booklet on HIV risk and testing has even more detailed information. It answers all other questions about HIV transmission and HIV testing. For example, about oral sex or viral load or condoms. Also, if you are feeling anxious or perhaps guilty. And technical info about how transmission occurs and how tests work.
3. U=U
This link has info 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.
4. UK guide to PrEP
The UK guide to PrEP has information about how HIV negative people can protect themselves against HIV, even if you don’t use a condom.
5. PEP – your questions answered
This online factsheet about PEP covers all Qs. It includes symptoms, risk to partners, times to test etc.
If you don’t believe your negative test result, please see this link: feelings of guilt about sex and recent encounters.
These resources answer EVERY question but you need to be patient to look.
If you have a question that is not covered we will add this to the FAQ page.
Because these answers are already online we do not answer testing questions individually.
Information vs advice
i-Base provides information rather than advice.
The difference is important. We provide info to help you make informed decisions with your doctor. We hope this makes it easier to have an active role in your own health.
We are more than 40 years into the HIV epidemic. Everyone who is sexually active needs to have good information about their health. Just as we encourage people living with HIV to understand their own health, this is the same for people who are HIV negative.
The info online shoukld help yiou feel more in control of your sexual health.
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:
http://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:
http://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:
http://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