First Lady Laura Bush said the United States proposes the establishment of an annual, global HIV Testing Day much like the U.S. campaign that sets June 27 as the day that encourages at-risk individuals to determine if they have the AIDS virus.  

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, last year there were more new cases of HIV reported in Iowa since reporting began in 1998. Kristine Davis, RN, is a nurse practitioner in the Virology Clinic at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, says current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend HIV testing for:

• People who are high risk,
• People in hospitals located in high HIV prevalence areas,
• Pregnant women,
• Infants whose mothers weren't tested

"However new guidelines are expected in 2006 recommending HIV screening for all adults in health care settings and annual testing for those at high risk," she you must ask to not be tested, rather than OPT-IN where you are only tested if you ask. HIV testing is now required for blood donors, military personnel, and in many cases for prison inmates, and immigrants."

Those at high risk to acquire HIV include anyone who:

• Had unprotected sex with someone whose HIV status isn't known to be negative
• Has shared injection drug equipment
• Had a sexually transmitted disease, like Chlamydia or gonorrhea
• Received a blood or clotting factor transfusion between 1978 and 1985
• Had unprotected sex with anyone in the preceding categories

" In spite of 20 years of HIV prevention education and testing, it's estimated that 25 percent of people living with HIV don't know they are infected," says Davis. "Among the people who tested positive at CDC-funded testing sites in 2000, 31 percent didn't return for test results. Also, many people are diagnosed late in their illness.

"In 2004, 39 percent of people testing positive for HIV received an AIDS diagnosis within one year. The AIDS diagnosis means you have HIV and also signs of a weakened immune system. Usually that means you've had HIV for at least five years" she says.

Although the CDC has funded free testing at many public health testing sites, more HIV testing is done in private doctors' offices. It's been shown that people testing positive are most likely to have been tested in the hospital or a doctor's office. HIV tests can be done with blood samples or swabs from the inside of the mouth. With most tests, results take about a week. There are some tests where results are more rapid, but if positive they need to be confirmed with a conventional test she says.

Knowing your HIV status allows you to avoid passing it to others Davis says. "Pregnant women with HIV can prevent giving HIV to their baby by taking medication during pregnancy. People who have HIV and take medications can slow progression of the disease and stay relatively healthy."

"Although HIV is still a serious disease, there are advances in treatment that allow people to stay well for longer periods of time. After testing positive, people are usually referred to a specialized HIV clinic where more lab testing will be done, and they'll receive counseling and education and medical treatment."

The best way to follow up a negative HIV test is to avoid exposure to HIV -- that means using a condom for all sexual activity, not sharing injection equipment, and avoiding situations with drug use or excessive alcohol use when you might be careless about protecting yourself against HIV.