At the Shelby County Health Department, we believe everyone deserves access to clear, accurate information about HIV. We’re here to support our community with knowledge and understanding, free from judgment or stigma.
Whether you’re seeking information for yourself, a loved one, or just want to be better informed, we’ve created this resource to address your most common questions.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.
HIV is an infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus. The virus can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, if not treated. Unlike some other viruses, the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely, even after treatment.
You can get or transmit HIV only through specific activities. Most commonly, people get or transmit HIV through anal or vaginal sex, or sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment (for example, cookers). Babies can also get HIV during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding if their mother has HIV. However, not every exposure to HIV carries the same risk, and some sexual activities are riskier than others. Many factors can increase or decrease HIV risk. Also, there are many effective ways a person can reduce their risk of HIV getting or transmitting HIV. To learn more about how to prevent HIV, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV page: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/index.html.
HIV infection may cause no symptoms in its early stages. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your HIV status is important because it helps you make decisions to stay healthy and prevent getting or transmitting HIV.
Testing for HIV is always free and confidential at Shelby County Health Department. Free HIV testing is also provided in the community at festivals, health fairs and other events by the Health Department and also our partnering agencies. Annual HIV testing is recommended for all sexually active people.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is the late stage of an HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged. This could be due to secondary infections or because HIV is undiagnosed in an individual.
Referring to HIV as AIDS can be stigmatizing. While the diagnosis is important, it is now considered outdated and marginalizing. Instead, we refer to a person’s viral load.
There is currently no cure for HIV. Once a person is diagnosed with HIV, they have it for life. However, with proper treatment and medical care, HIV can be controlled. People diagnosed with HIV can live long, healthy lives.
HIV can only be transmitted by coming into direct contact with specific body fluid from a person with HIV who is undiagnosed, untreated, or has a detectable viral load. These fluids are:
HIV does not survive outside the human body or on surfaces; it can’t reproduce outside a human host and can’t be passed through casual contact. HIV is not transmitted by:
HIV can only spread through specific activities. The most common ways are:
Yes, it’s possible if the person who gives someone a tattoo uses the same needle immediately after using that needle on someone who had HIV. Tattoos should be done at a reputable tattooing studio that employs only properly trained employees, is licensed with the state health department, and meets all regulations and requirements.
Acquiring HIV varies widely depending on the type of exposure or behavior. Some exposures to HIV are at higher levels of transmission than other exposures. But certain activity can add up over time. Those exposures include the following:
The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that everyone between 13 and 64 gets tested at least once as part of their routine health care. Individuals with higher risk factors should be tested at least once a year.
Antibody tests (Rapids – OraQuick, Insti, Chembio) look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid. Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days to detect HIV infection after exposure. Antibody rapid tests process results in 20 minutes or less. Nashville CARES or Nashville CARES My House Clinic currently uses the Insti Rapid HIV Test for diagnosis, and results are available in one minute or less.
Antigen/antibody (4th Generation) looks for HIV antibodies and antigens. Antibody/antigen tests are processed by a lab on blood taken from a vein and can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after exposure. Your immune system produces antibodies. Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate.
The “window period” is when antibodies are made to fight infection. The “window period for HIV antibody testing is 90 days. Remember, if you get an HIV test after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, you should get tested again after the window period. You can only be sure you are HIV negative if:
Your most recent test is after the 90-day window period.
You haven’t had a potential HIV exposure during the window period. If you have potential exposure, you will need to be retested.
U=U is short for undetectable = untransmittable.
An undetectable viral load is where antiretroviral treatment (ART) has reduced your HIV to such small quantities that standard blood tests can no longer detect it.
In recent years, an overwhelming body of clinical evidence has firmly established the HIV Undetectable=Untransmittable, or U=U, the concept as scientifically sound. U=U means that people with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load—the amount of HIV in the blood—by taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) daily as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. Thus, treatment for HIV is a powerful arrow in the quiver of HIV prevention tools.
If you have questions that weren’t addressed here, or need more specific information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Shelby County Health Department. Our dedicated healthcare professionals are here to provide confidential support, testing services, and guidance. Remember, knowledge is power in preventing HIV and supporting those affected by it. Together, we can work towards a healthier community through education, understanding, and compassionate care.
Give us call at 901-222-9400
