HIV TESTING FOR COUPLES
Many couples entering into new sexual relationships decide to be tested jointly for HIV. This is a good idea. If both partners are tested for HIV more than six months from their last sexual contact with other partners or exposure to any other risk factor, test negative, and are mum ally monogamous, then they can assume that they are negative for HIV However, if there is continued risk of infection—such as contact with other partners or injection drug use—then a couple cannot assume they are safe and should continue to use a barrier method to protect themselves against infection.
If you intend to be tested for HIV you should consider the issue of confidentiality. Insurance companies, if they know that you have sought testing for the infection, may label you as “high risk” and deny you insurance coverage or certain benefits in the future—even if you test negative. This consequence has prevented many people from being tested. Others who didn’t know about this practice, and who sought testing from a health care provider on their insurance plans, now have the test as part of their permanent records and may be denied insurance coverage in the future. Check in your area for a clinic that performs anonymous testing. To preserve your anonymity, such a testing center requires only your first name, or else you are assigned a number without having to give your name at all. Most public health clinics provide this service. There is also a home HIV test that is anonymous. People who do test positive must refer their partners for testing; health care providers can help with this.
The following five tests are available to test for HIV infection or to monitor the progress of an infected individual.
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