HIV/AIDS SERVICES - TESTING

Orange County Health Department
832 West Central Blvd., Orlando, FL  32805
407.836.2680

A lot of people ask for an "AIDS test", but it really is an HIV test. It looks for evidence (antibodies) of the virus in your blood.

What is the "Window Period"?

The tests to detect the presence of HIV in a person, look for antibodies to the virus. The time period between a person's infection with HIV and the appearance of detectable anti-HIV antibodies, is called the window period. Because antibodies to HIV take some time to form, an HIV antibody test will not be positive immediately after a person is infected. The time delay typically ranges from 14 to 21 days, but varies for different people. Nearly everyone infected with HIV will have detectable antibodies by 3 months after infection. It is best to have your personal physician evaluate and explain your test results.

How can I find out the test results of my former sex partners?

No one has the right to see anyone else's medical records. All medical records are confidential, but HIV test results have been classified as "super confidential" under Florida law. Only under very strict exceptions are the results released, and then it is to a court of law or medical personnel that have a clearly defined ‘need to know’.

If you think you might have put yourself at risk or been put at risk, you should be tested.

Ways to be tested.

There are two ways to be tested for HIV. The first is an anonymous test. With this test, no identifying information is taken (no name, address, social security number, etc.). County, state and zip code of residence and date of birth is all that must be provided. The person taking the test is given a bar code number, and must bring it back to be matched to the corresponding test result.

The second way to be tested is confidentially. This simply means that a person's name, address, phone number and date of birth are filled out just like a medical record in a doctor’s office. The law (Florida Statues 384) requires persons who volunteer to be tested confidentially for HIV be informed that positive test results will be reported to the local county health department so that they may be offered follow-up services (medical treatment, partner notification and case management).

What is the testing process?

The most common way of doing an HIV test is to take a small amount of blood from a person, and send it to a lab. There is another newer, less common method, called the Oral Specimen Collection Device, that can be used to collect a sample. This process involves putting a device similar to a Q-Tip between your cheek and gum for 3-5 minutes. This pulls out a sample of the mucosal transudate from deep within the cell wall. This is sent to the lab, and from there the processing is pretty much the same.

The screening process performed on the blood is either an ELISA or Synthetic Peptide (S/P) test, and an ELISA is performed on the mucosal transudate. If the test shows no evidence of antibodies to the HIV virus, a ‘negative’ lab slip is issued. If the test detects antibodies, a second ELISA or S/P is done to assure the first one was correct. All positive ELISA and S/P test results are confirmed with a confirmatory test, a Western Blot. Once a confirmatory test shows positive results, a 'positive' lab slip is issued and sent back to the clinic.

How long does this take, and how much does it cost?

All HIV tests done at the Orange County Health Department cost $20.00. However, no one is refused the test because they can’t afford the fee. It takes two weeks before results are available. Results (both negative and positive) are given in person to the person who took the test. No results are given over the phone or through the mail.

All tests done by private physicians are at various prices (all higher), and take anywhere from 3-7 days before results are available.

What are the three possible results and what do they mean?

• Negative - person is not infected with HIV virus or they may be in the window period and it is too soon to tell.
• Positive - person has a sufficient amount of antibodies to HIV and is infected and infectious.
• Indeterminate/inconclusive-usually occurs when the initial screening test is positive and only one of two required antibodies is detected in the confirmatory test. Person may be in the process of converting. Re-testing is required.

Who must I tell if I test positive?

By law, the only persons you are legally obligated to tell about your positive HIV status are current or future sex partners. Morally and ethically, you should notify any former sexual and/or needle sharing partners. Because a lot of newly diagnosed people are very uncomfortable telling others that they are infected, the Orange County Health Department has services that will do it with strict confidentiality. That means, the Health Department never reveals the name of the person who provided names of their sexual or needle sharing partners.

Where can I get tested?

A person can get tested with their private physician, the office of Planned Parenthood, Centaur, or at their County Health Departments. It is advisable to phone in advance to find out when testing is available, what type and the cost of the test.

The Orange County Health Department, located at 832 W. Central Blvd. in Orlando, does both anonymous and confidential HIV testing in room 218.

Confidential testing for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the Lila Mitchell Health Center, 5151 Raleigh Street, Orlando, Florida, is done on a first come, first serve basis.

Office hours are as follows for both the Central and Lila Mitchell Health Clinics:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday *
8:00 - 10:30 AM 1:00 - 3:30 PM	Morning Closed 1:00 - 6:00 PM	8:00 - 10:30 AM 1:00 - 3:30 PM	8:00 - 10:30 AM Afternoon Closed	8:00 - 10:30 AM 1:00 - 3:30 PM
* On the first Friday of each month, hours are 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM, and no afternoon clinic. For more information, call 407-296-5177.