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 Zama,
Though the latest test result is lower, your doctor will see this as being a similar result. Please do not worry about this. Your CD4 is still very strong.
When I started meds my CD4 was 1649. I take them on time. Now my CD4 is
1396.
Hi Jeje,
Please see Q 1 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I had unprotected sex on 30th sept. 2016, i was sick after like 3 months, fever and all i took some pills and i was back to normal, after some weeks again i was sick but i started to think i took tap water which was typoid but still i went and get HIV test after 118 days exactly i had sex and it was Negetive. Is that conclusive or do i need to get test again?
Hi Leviathan,
There’s no need to panic, its not possible to transmit HIV in the way that you’ve described.
I am not sure im supposed to send an email but I am really bothered and distraught.
I accidentally spat water onto another person’s eye while drinking. It was just a droplet and I had a mouthsore (small one). I am not sure if there is blood or not. I am HIV + with last viral load of 43copies per ml. I am feeling guilty that I might have transmitted to him my disease. Please help…
Hi Zama,
Its perfectly fine for you to engage in oral sex and sexual intercourse as well. More so because its very likely that your viral load is undetectable. What this means is that the risk of transmission is close to zero, that’s when having sex without a condom.
For more info, please see here:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Hi,
I am HIV positive and have been on medication from the time I found out (22/07/2016) I have a boyfriend who is negative and we have recently been thinking about oral sex, is it safe for us to engage in oral sex?
Hi Ntelanr,
Only people who are positive can transmit HIV. Therefore, if you are negative you did not transmit HIV to your girlfriend.
Can someone infect someone with HIV then tested negative? I went to test with my girlfriend and discovered that she was HIV positive and I tested negative.