New diagnoses of HIV in Australia have risen 50% over the past 10 years! What’s really going on with HIV testing in Australia?

It would appear that the overall trend within the community is towards a the lack of HIV testing despite the publication of HIV data that indicates it is as important to undergo an HIV test now as it has ever been if.  As with all news cycles, HIV news waxes and wanes regardless of the underlying reality.  This can cause the perception with the Australian public that when HIV is not in the news on a regular basis that somehow the risk is reduced.  This is of particular its concern considering that the reality is a significant rise in HIV detection in the Australian population. Three annual reports on HIV and sexually transmitted infections in Australia released in October 2012 show a rise in HIV diagnoses. The reports were released at the Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference 2012 in Melbourne.The reports show that new diagnoses of HIV in Australia have risen 50% over the past 10 years.  Certain groups are at a higher risk of infection than others.  Particularly concerning is the rate of infection within the homosexual community.  One reason for this increase in HIV infection could be that unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners among gay men has also increased over the past decade. In 2011, 34.6% of Australian men who had sex with a casual partner reported having unprotected anal intercourse in the past six months.Another group at risk from HIV infection are men frequenting prostitutes and in particular those who practice unprotected sex. 

So of bearing in mind that these infections are normally the result of unprotected sex with a partner that in knows they have previously been a risk of contracting HIV, the question becomes why are they not taking an HIV test.

With this information available to the Australian public it is apparent that through whatever means possible the Australian public should be encouraged to carry out HIV testing.

Do I have HIV? Are these HIV symptoms?

Many individuals grow concerned that the health symptoms they are showing maybe those of the HIV virus.  This can be a cause of anxiety and stress for the individual which may then go on to worsen their perceptions of the symptoms they are showing. 

Before we discuss what may be possible HIV symptoms let us first look at the HIV virus.  The HIV virus is typically transmitted through an exchange of bodily fluids such as semen, vaginal fluids or blood.  Hypothetically the transmission may occur during oral sex as this can involve the exchange of HIV carrying fluids.

Needle sharing and unprotected sexual intercourse are common methods of transmission.  Once the HIV virus enters the bloodstream of an individual the immune system of that individual will began to produce antibodies in an effort to destroy the virus.  It is these antibodies that HIV tests detect showing that the individual does in fact have the HIV virus.  Of the period of time after infection to the presence of HIV antibodies is commonly referred to as the HIV window period. 

During this time HIV is undetectable and the body is manufacturing antibodies.  This process may cause a viral responds with in the body and can show some symptoms similar to a flu or other viral infection.  It is important to note that no set of symptoms is unique to HIV infection and as such no physical symptoms can serve as a diagnosis.  Of many individuals will show no symptoms at all as they passed through this period can produce HIV antibodies.  So when asking the question “do I have HIV?” , the only way to be certain of the answer is to take an HIV test.  In Australia and individual has various options for HIV testing including the purchase of online self test kits.

HIV status. It is the not knowing that will cause unnecessary risk of life.

Many individuals considering an HIV test put off or ignore testing for reasons such as privacy and convenience.  This can cause great unnecessary risk for those individuals and others who may be putting themselves at risk without realizing.  It is important that if you for any reason to believe that you have been at risk of HIV infection that you test as soon as possible.  The early detection and treatment of HIV greatly increases survival rates.  Many individuals carry on normal sexual behavior despite knowing that they have had what would be described as an HIV infection risk.  Given that the overwhelming majority of individuals once diagnosed with HIV take greater measures to ensure that they do not infect others leads us to the following conclusion.  Many individuals infected by HIV have been infected by a partner who had contracted HIV can have not tested and therefore had not been diagnosed.  It would be unlikely to that individual did not realize that they had been at risk of HIV infection.  So a primary cause of the individual going on to infect others is their choice not to have tested for HIV.  Given that there are several testing options available to the Australian public here at Head Start Testing we believe that by offering the public a supplementary HIV testing method that hopefully the instances of the example given can be reduced.  A simple HIV test carried out using a HIV self test kit can give an individual early results leading to early treatment and diminished and risk of infection to others.  As the message is that if you are in any doubt about your HIV status that you should take an HIV test at your earliest convenience.

Technology Helps Prevent HIV

HIV testing is being greatly assisted with the arrival of new technologies. Most recently it has become possible to test for HIV using a home hiv test kit. The technology allows the user to deposit 1 or 2 drops of blood into the HIV test cassette and to see the results of their HIV status within minutes.

The test kits supplied by Head Start Testing are manufactured under ISO and GMP standards to ensure reliability. The HIV test kits are > 99% accurate, test for type 1 and 2 sub virus and have a 2rd reading to display a failed test. The HIV test kits come with full, easy to follow instructions and are safe to use.

This new technology allows individuals to test for hiv status in the privacy of their own homes at their convenience. This removes two significant barriers to HIV testing in the community. Many individuals are concerned they may be showing HIV symptoms, have been exposed to an HIV positive sexual partner or simply want to be 100% sure of their own status. Often they put off testing at an HIV test centre and these HIV home test kits offer a safe alternative.

Technology is assisting us in many ways to improve the quality of our lives. It now seems that with HIV home test kits it can help us ensure that HIV is easily detected. Currently all tests for HIV detect the HIV anti bodies but science is working on a test to detect the HIV pathogen itself.