for Health Care Professionals
HIV commonly goes unrecognized. About 25% of Maine adults with HIV don’t know they are infected, because they haven’t been tested. It is estimated that about 50% of adolescents with HIV don’t know. This adds up to about 300-500 Mainers who could benefit from treatment for HIV infection if they were diagnosed.
About 40% of people with HIV in Maine are diagnosed in the late stages of their disease. Often people with HIV infection visit health care settings years before receiving a diagnosis, but are not tested for HIV.
Individuals tested and treated earlier in their infection tend to have better health and quality of life than those testing late in their disease.More than half of new HIV infections are caused by people who are infected but untested and unaware of their infection.
HIV testing is the gateway for both treatment and prevention.
The benefits of testing.
Benefits to knowing one’s HIV status include getting early treatment for HIV and taking steps to reduce transmission to partners if HIV positive. If HIV negative, taking steps to stay that way.
