Can someone get HIV through oral sex? Yes
If someone is performing oral sex on his/her partner, there is a risk of infection.  Pre-cum, semen, and vaginal secretions can all contain HIV.  These fluids can enter the individual's mouth and infect him/her.  This can occur with or without the presence of any open sores, cuts, or abrasions in the mouth.  Although the risk through oral sex is believed to be less than vaginal or anal intercourse, the risk is present and transmission can occur.

If you can test someone for HIV by using oral fluid, does that mean someone can contract HIV through saliva? No
The amount of HIV in saliva is very low if it is present at all.  When an oral HIV test is conducted, the test is searching for the presence of HIV antibodies, not HIV itself, in a substance called “oral mucosal transudate” which lines the gums.  The test is not collecting a saliva sample.  Saliva poses a risk for HIV infection only when blood is present.

Is using two condoms, at the same time, better then using just one? No
Using two condoms, at the same time, is not recommended due to the possibility of friction developing between the two condoms as a result of each rubbing against the other.  This may result in one or both of the condoms breaking.

Where did HIV originate from?
For many years scientists theorized as to the origins of HIV and how it appeared in the human population.  Over the years, many theories have been postulated including the theory that HIV may have been man-made.  While this theory has never been proven, it continues to be a pervasive yet controversial belief among many.  The most supported theory is the belief that HIV originated in other primates.  In 1999, a team of researchers reported that they had discovered the origins of HIV.  A species of chimpanzees native to western Africa had been identified as the original source of the virus. These researchers believe that HIV was introduced into the human population when individuals became exposed to the infected blood of the chimpanzees.

How long can HIV survive outside the body?
It is hard to determine exactly how long HIV can survive outside the body due to many variables.  The amount of HIV-infected fluid, the room temperature, and other conditions may contribute to this time period.  HIV, however, does not survive well outside the body.  Drying of HIV-infected blood and/or other body fluids reduces the risk of environmental transmission to essentially zero.

 

What is the difference between confidential and anonymous testing?
Confidential Testing means test results will have the individual’s name on it. By law, all positive HIV test results must be reported to the local Health Department and the Virginia Department of Health. Identifying information is not public information and violations of confidentiality are punishable by law. Other than the legal requirement to report positive test results to health officials, confidential results cannot be released to anyone without the client's permission.
Anonymous Testing means that only the test number identifies the client and that the client's name will not appear on the test results. Clinic staff will not ask for a client's identifying information, such as name, address, or telephone number. If a client tests positive for HIV through an anonymous test, he/she may be encouraged to be retested confidentially so that the client has "proof of status." This proof of status is an eligibility requirement for primary medical care at many medical providers.

Is a rapid HIV test as accurate as a test where it takes two weeks to get the results back?
In most cases the EIA (enzyme immunoassay), performed on blood drawn from a vein, is the standard screening test used to detect the presence of antibodies to HIV. A reactive EIA must be used with a follow-up confirmatory test such as the Western blot to make a positive diagnosis. A rapid test is a screening test that produces very quick results, in approximately 20 minutes. Rapid tests use blood or oral fluid to look for the presence of antibodies to HIV and these tests have similar accuracy rates as traditional EIA screening tests.  As is true for all screening tests, however, a reactive rapid HIV test result should be confirmed with a follow-up two week test before a final diagnosis of infection can be made. Studies have shown that the rapid HIV test (OraQuick) correctly identified 99.6% of people who were infected with.

How soon after being exposed should I be tested for HIV?
It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough HIV antibodies for an HIV test to detect, and this time period can vary from person to person. This time period is known as the “window period”. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 3 months (the average is 25 days). Even so, there is a chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies.  In some cases, it can take up to 6 months to for the HIV antibodies to be detected.