SPREAD THE WORD, NOT THE VIRUS: KNOW YOUR HIV STATUS
Did you know that every 9.5 minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV?1
Unfortunately, many of those infected will not be diagnosed in the early phase of the disease -- when they are most contagious -- and may unknowingly spread the virus to others.2 In fact,
more than half of new sexually transmitted HIV cases are due to transmission of the virus from people who are unaware that they are infected.3
Diagnosing HIV in its earliest stages and early management of the virus are essential to living a full, high-quality life and to slowing the spread of HIV.4 Knowing your status by getting tested helps you make decisions about your health and can allow you to help prevent the spread of the virus to your partner. It is critical that you talk to your doctor about the most accurate and appropriate testing options available for you.
To learn more about testing, please click on one of the links below. Get tested today -- for your health, for your partner’s health and for your community. We can’t end AIDS without your commitment to knowing your HIV status.
Learn more about:
When should I get tested for HIV?
There are some simple steps people can take to protect themselves from contracting HIV:
- Know your status. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone between the ages of 15 and 65 be tested for HIV at least once.
- If you are at increased risk for HIV, you should be tested for HIV at least once a year.
- Talk to your doctor about the different testing options available for you.
What tests are available for HIV?
Some HIV tests only detect antibodies (the body’s reaction to the HIV virus), which can take anywhere from three to four weeks to develop in response to infection of the virus.5 Medical technology advances have led to a new generation of HIV tests, which can accurately provide results within two weeks of exposure to the virus because they can detect both antigens (the actual HIV virus) and antibodies.6
Earlier detection not only provides information to help patients make decisions that may reduce risky behavior, but it also allows patients to start on antiretroviral therapy sooner, which could benefit the health of the patient and may also reduce HIV transmission rates.7
Talk to your doctor about the different testing options available for you and discuss if you should get a newer generation (antigen/antibody combo) test.
To learn more about HIV, click here  .
Where can I get tested for HIV?
The Chicago Department of Public Health offers free, anonymous and confidential HIV testing at the following locations:
Englewood Clinic
641 W. 63rd St.
Chicago, IL 60621
(312) 747-8911
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Roseland Neighborhood Health Center
200 E. 115th St.
Chicago, IL 60628
(312) 747-2817
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Lakeview Clinic
2861 N. Clark
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 744-5507 |
Uptown Clinic
845 W. Wilson
Chicago, IL 60640
(312) 744-1935 |
Suburban Cook County
Evanston Health Department
2100 Ridge
Evanston, IL 60201
847-866-2950
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Cook County Department of Public Health
1010 W. Lake St. #300
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 492-2190 or 708-492-2058 |
Oak Park Health Department
One Village Hall Plaza
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 445-3340 x2253 |
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To find other testing sites near you, please visit http://www.hivtest.org/.
What happens if I'm HIV-positive?
First, know that you are not alone. HIV affects people from all walks of life. There are more than 20,000 people living with HIV in Chicago, 41,000 in Illinois and about 1.2 million throughout the country.
Next, know that HIV is treatable, and that with proper treatment, you can live a long, healthy life.
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago has several resources, including a step-by-step guide for people who have just found out they are HIV-positive, available on their “Change My Story” Web site. To learn how you can take action for your health and change your story for the better, please visit: http://changemystory.org/get-care.
 About the Need2Know HIV Campaign
The Need2Know HIV campaign aims to equip people with the knowledge to reduce HIV infections and lessen the impact of the virus. Through this effort, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago aims to foster conversation about how the virus behaves and the importance of regular testing. The Need2Know HIV educational program is supported by Abbott. Abbott is not responsible for the comments posted on this page or the content that is linked from the page.
Share the message of testing:
1Fact Sheet: The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States.” The Kaiser Family Foundation, September 2009.
2Cohen et al. Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy. New England Journal of Medicine, 2011; 365:493-505.
3Marquez et al. HIV testing: An update, Medical Laboratory Observer, February 2008.
4Marks et al. Estimating sexual transmission of HIV from persons aware and unaware that they are infected with the virus in the USA. AIDS, 2006, 20:1447–1450.
5Stekler et al. Screening for Acute HIV Infection: Lessons Learned, Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2007; 44:459–61.
6Marquez et al. HIV testing: An update, Medical Laboratory Observer, February 2008.
7Cohen et al. Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy. New England Journal of Medicine, 2011; 365:493-505.
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