Education

What is AIDS?
AIDS is an acronym that stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is a chronic disease that damages, and ultimately destroys, the immune system. AIDS is caused by HIV.

What is HIV?
HIV is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the virus that causes AIDS. HIV attacks and destroys blood cells called "helper T-cells". "Helper T-cells" are also called CD4 cells because they have a molecule called CD4 on the surface of the cell. CD4 cells play a critical role in the immune system by telling other cells what to do when they find an infection. Without a sufficent number of CD4 cells, the immune system weakens, allowing microorganisms such as bacteria and other viruses, that don't harm people with normal immune responses, to cause serious infections in those with HIV.

How is HIV Transmitted?
HIV is transmitted when blood, semen, vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. HIV can also enter the body through a vein (i.e. injection drug use), the anus or rectum, the vagina, the penis, the mouth, other mucous membranes (i.e. eyes or inside of the nose), cuts or sores. HIV is primarily transmitted by sex (anal, vaginal or oral sex with an infected partner), by injections (sharing contaminated needles for drug use or accidental piercing with a contaminated needle), or from infected mother to child through pregnancy or breast-feeding. HIV is NOT transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace, schools, or social settings. HIV is not transmitted through shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, a drinking fountain, a doorknob, dishes, drinking glass, food, or pets.

How does HIV work?
HIV has a core of genetic material (called RNA) surrounded by a protective sheath called a capsid. In HIV, the viral RNA has a protein called "reverse transcriptase" that is crucial for its survival. A molecule on the surface of HIV, called gp120, binds to the CD4 molecule on the surface of the helper T-cells (or CD4 cells). This allows the virus to integrate its viral RNA, with the help of the reverse transcriptase, into the DNA of the CD4 cell. Thus, the CD4 cell replicates the HIV virus without knowing it! Eventually, the HIV virus will kill the host CD4 cell and then spread to new CD4 cells and repeat the process. This slowly decreases the number of CD4 cells and the body's ability to fight infections.

About HIV Testing
HIV tests are designed to detect the presence of the HIV antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by your body to fight infection. If you have antibodies to the HIV virus, then you have been infected with the HIV virus.

The test is conducted on a confidential or anonymous basis. "Confidential" means that your name is recorded along with the HIV-antibody test results and become part of your medical record. This information may be released to health care providers or other authorized individuals on a need-to-know-basis as described by Georgia law. Because this information becomes part of your medical history, which could be accesssed by health care providers and insurance companies, many organizations recommend "anonymous" testing.

In anonymous testing, the individual being tested is assigned a number. Test results may only be given to the individual presenting the corresponding number. No names are ever recorded, thus decreasing the possibility of discrimination against HIV-infected people.

In Georgia, minors can be tested without a parent's or guardian's consent. However, parental involvement is strongly encouraged.