It's hard to believe we've been fighting AIDS for more than 30 years. I remember the early days; there was no name, let alone test, for HIV. Tireless research efforts to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease were followed by painful periods of diminished hope before reaching our current state of optimism. Treatment advances that began in the late 1980s and 1990s have led to steady improvements in limiting the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS.
However, the battle against this disease is far from over: Every nine and a half minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV.(1) In Chicago, the HIV-infection prevalence rate is nearly three times the national rate, and more than 20,000 Chicagoans are currently living with HIV infections.(2)
The good news is that a crucial tool in blunting the toll of this virus is knowing your status and the status of your partner through testing, as well as being tested as early and accurately as possible. The latest technology advancements in diagnostic testing, called HIV combo tests, allow physicians to accurately provide results within about two weeks of exposure to the virus.(3) HIV combo tests can detect both antigens (the actual HIV virus) and antibodies to the virus, allowing those who test positive the chance to adjust their behavior earlier and begin antiretroviral therapy sooner. Imagine making one simple choice that could potentially result in long-term health benefits to both you and your significant other.
Last year, Abbott and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) started new conversations—both online and offline—to help spark awareness about HIV testing and the need for getting the right test at the right time. #Need2KnowHIV has several tools available for those Chicagoans who want to learn more.
National HIV Testing Day on June 27 presented a timely reminder that we cannot become complacent—an individual can become infected if not properly protected. As we celebrate how far we have come with advances in testing and treatment, let's renew our commitment to an AIDS-free future by empowering ourselves with these tools at our disposal: testing, knowledge, and treatment.
To learn more about HIV testing and the importance of knowing your HIV status, please visit the #Need2Know HIV content at aidschicago.org/i-need-hiv-testing.
Dr. Gerald Schochetman is senior director, infectious diseases and diagnostic research for Abbott, which is headquartered in North Chicago, Ill.
Sources:
(1) HIV Prevention in the United States: At a critical crossroads. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2009. Web site: www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/reports/pdf/hiv_prev_us.pdf
(2) Healthy Chicago STI/HIV Surveillance Report. Chicago Department of Public Health. Fall 2011. Web site:www.cityofchicago.org/dam/city/depts/cdph/statistics_and_reports/2011HIVSTISurveillanceReport120211.pdf
(3) Marquez, C, Zetola, NM, and Klausner, JD. HIV testing: An update. Medical Laboratory Observer. 2008; 40:12-18.
