Seeing an HIV Health Care Provider
I just tested HIV positive. What should I look
for in a health care provider?
Look for a health care provider who has experience treating
HIV and AIDS. You may want to see a specialist in HIV.
You need a health care provider with whom you feel
comfortable. You will be working closely with your health
care provider to make many decisions regarding your
treatment.
What can I expect at my first health care
provider visit?
Your health care provider will ask you about your health and
lifestyle, do a physical exam, and order blood tests. Your
health care provider will also discuss what it means to have
HIV and how it can aect your life. Your rst visit is a good
time to ask your health care provider questions.
What questions should I ask my health care
provider?
Ask your health care provider about:
•
e benets and risks of HIV treatment
•
How HIV treatment can aect your lifestyle
•
Lab tests used to monitor HIV infection
•
How to avoid getting other infections
•
How to avoid spreading HIV to another person
Write down your questions so you remember them when
you visit your health care provider.
What tests will my health care provider
order?
You will have three very important blood tests at your rst
medical appointment: a
CD4 count
, a
viral load
test, and
drug-resistance testing
.
•
A
CD4 count
is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of
blood. CD4 cells are infectionghting cells of the body’s
immune system. HIV destroys CD4 cells, making it hard
for the body to ght o infections. A CD4 count measures
how well the immune system is working. A goal of HIV
treatment is to prevent HIV from destroying CD4 cells.
•
A
viral load test
measures the amount of HIV in a sample
of blood. e test indicates how much virus is in the blood
(viral load). A goal of HIV treatment is to keep a person’s
viral load so low that the virus can’t be detected by a viral
load test.
•
Drug-resistance testing
identies which, if any, anti-HIV
medications will not be eective against a person’s strain of
HIV.
Your health care provider may also order other tests, such as a
blood cell count, kidney and liver function tests, and tests for
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
and other diseases.
When will I begin HIV treatment?
Starting HIV treatment is a big step. When to begin
treatment depends on your health, your test results, and your
readiness to take a combination of anti-HIV medications (a regimen) every day. Once you begin taking anti-HIV
medications, you will probably need to take them for the rest
of your life.
Your health care provider will help you decide if you are
ready to start treatment. (See the When to Start Anti-HIV
Medications fact sheet.) Once you start treatment, your
health care provider will help you nd ways to stick to your
treatment regimen. (See the Treatment Adherence and Following an
HIV Treatment Regimen fact sheets.)
What happens if I don’t start treatment right
away?
If you don’t start treatment right away, you should have a
CD4 count and viral load test once every 3 to 6 months.
Your health care provider will use the test results to monitor
your infection and help you decide when to start treatment.
Terms Used in This Fact Sheet:
CD4 count:
The number of CD4 cells in a sample of
blood. A CD4 count measures how well the immune
system is working.
Drug-resistance testing:
A blood test to identify which, if
any, anti-HIV medications will not be effective against a
person’s specific strain of HIV. Drug-resistance testing is
done using a sample of blood.
Regimen:
A combination of three or more anti-HIV
medications from at least two different drug classes.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs):
Infections that are
usually passed during sex.
Viral load:
The amount of HIV in the blood. One of the
goals of antiretroviral therapy is to reduce viral load.
This
information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the
Use
of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral
Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
available
at
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
For more information:
Contact an AIDS
info
health information specialist at 1-800
448-0440 or visit
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov
. See your health
care provider for medical advice.
This
information is based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines
for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral
Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
available
at
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
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