HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that is a member of the retrovirus family. It is therefore also sometimes referred to as ‘retrovirus’. This is important nomenclature as treatment for HIV is often referred to as Anti-Retroviral Therapy (or ART).
HIV can be tested for by a blood test. At Northside Clinic, the test result can take up to 1 week to come back. Your Doctor will advise you as to how you can receive your result.If you test positive for HIV, a confirmatory test will be performed to be sure the result is accurate. Further testing will be done to assess your CD4 count, viral load (amount of HIV virus in your blood), and various other checks.
Northside Clinic does not offer Rapid HIV Testing. The closest available location is at Pronto in Abbotsford. For more information visit https://thorneharbour.org/services/pronto/
Northside Clinic has been involved in HIV management since the beginning of the epidemic and many of the doctors at Northside Clinic have the experience and qualifications to treat people living with HIV and to prescribe the appropriate medications. We maintain close links with all the other HIV services in Melbourne and, when necessary, we can help patients in cooperation with appropriate hospital specialists.
Current Australian HIV treatment guidelines recommend commencement of Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) in all HIV positive people, regardless of CD4 count, at or as close as possible to the time of diagnosis with HIV. The basis for this is to improve the person’s health, prolong their life, and reduce the risk if transmitting HIV to others.
All decisions to start ART should be made by the individual with HIV, in consultation with their Doctor.
There are many factors to consider such as:
- Your readiness and willingness to take medication
- The need for lifelong medication
- The need for high adherence.
Currently, once you start ART, treatment is life-long.At the moment there is strong evidence to show that taking ART if you are HIV positive can prevent transmission to other HIV negative people. This is known as Treatment as Prevention (TasP). Studies have shown that if you are on ART and have undetectable viral load, there is very little risk of transmission to a negative partner, even if you have condomless sex. However, a very low rate of transmission cannot be totally ruled out.
Currently the only way to prevent HIV is to practice safe sex by using condoms and/or taking PrEP, and not sharing injecting drug equipment. It is also a good idea to get regular STI testing.
There is currently no preventable vaccine against HIV.
If you think you may have been exposed to HIV through unprotected sex, condom breakage, injecting drug usage or needle-stick injury, taking HIV medication, or Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) for 1 month can prevent long-term infection with HIV.
PEP needs to be started within 72 hours of exposure, before the virus can take hold in your system. Your Doctor will decide if you are eligible or not, as some exposure may not be high enough risk to warrant potential side effects of PEP.
To arrange PEP, phone Northside Clinic on 9485 7700 and state to the receptionist that you think you may need PEP in order to arrange an urgent appointment. Alternatively, after hours, phone 1800 889 887 or present to the Emergency Department at the Alfred Hospital or Royal Melbourne Hospital.
For more information visit Get PEP.
There is now excellent evidence that if you are HIV negative, taking medication in advance (prophylactically) is highly effective in preventing you from acquiring HIV if you are at risk of being exposed. This is known as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis).
People at high risk of HIV are eligible for PrEP in Australia. Currently PrEP is recommended for sexually active gay and bisexual men (cis and trans) who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people, heterosexual people whose partner is known to have HIV and undetectable viral load, and people who inject drugs.
Talk to your Doctor about PrEP if you are considering taking it. It involves an initial screen to make sure that you are HIV negative, as well as baseline STI and kidney tests. Once taking it, it generally involves a check with your Doctor every 3 months, depending on how you take it.
PrEP is now available on the Pharmaceutic Benefits Scheme (PBS) since April 2018 if you hold a Medicare card. For those who don’t, it is still accessible for importation via a reliable overseas supplier/pharmacy. You will still need a script from your GP though to import it.
There are currently 3 different ways to take PrEP – daily, intermittent or periodic, and on-demand. Talk to your Doctor about which method is best for you. Currently on-demand PrEP is not advised for some groups as it has not been fully studied in these groups, so talk to your Doctor about whether it is right for you.
Taking PrEP doesn’t mean that you can have unprotected sex without worry as it doesn’t protect you from other STIs. Condoms are still recommended if you take PrEP and are worried about other STIs. And there are also risks in taking PrEP outside the supervision of your Doctor.
For more information visit Health Direct