Why should I be tested for HIV?
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What is HIV?
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus may be
passed from one person to another when infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with an uninfected person’s
broken skin or mucous membranes. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery,
as well as through breast-feeding. People with HIV have what is called HIV infection. Some of these people will develop AIDS
as a result of their HIV infection.
Confidential HIV Testing
Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care
provider know your results, which may be recorded in your medical file. Those who are tested confidentially and are found
to be infected with HIV are reported to local health officials and the State Office of AIDS, so that the government can better
track the extent of the disease in the population as a whole.
Effective April 2006~ HIV
Name-Based Reporting
California now requires those who are
infected with HIV to be reported by name to local Public Health Officials. It is important to note that AIDS diagnoses have
been reported by name in California throughout the United States since the early 1980's. The federal Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention had urged all states to collect HIV infection reports by name and the vast majority of states now do so.
It is important to note that only public health officials have access to
the information that is reported; employers and insurance companies do not. Additionaly, the names of HIV-positive
Californians will only be reported to the county in which they live and to the state. The federal government will only receive
a unique code for each HIV-positive individual, not their actual name. California law includes provisions that ensure the
highest degree of confidentiality of name-based HIV data and significant financial penalties for inappropriate disclosure
of that information. In addition, stringent laws exist at the federal, state and local levels to protect individuals with
HIV and AIDS from discrimination in housing, employment and public services.
