What do yo think? I voted NO at the wral poll but apparently am in the minority. Wondering if the consumer will be expected to also pay for this additional test. ============== Feds Want Routine HIV Testing For Americans Recommendations Not Legally Binding POSTED: 12:08 pm EDT September 21, 2006 ATLANTA -- All Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 should be routinely tested for HIV to help catch infections earlier and stop the spread of the deadly virus, federal health recommendations announced Thursday say. http://www.wral.com/health/9902461/detail.html
I think it's a wonderful idea in theory, but agree with Ken that the test needs to be developed a bit better first.
Either way Ken, I still think its a good idea. I've been tested at least once a year since I was old enough to start having sex. If more people got tested, I think we'd have less infections. Sure there are people who have it and are going to do what they want to do anyway, but most folks would take care not to spread the disease further.
STD testing is normally part of your yearly physical, but HIV tests require a signature and a blood test. And in theory, you're right. But let's say you'd been infected 6 months before you had that test 6 years ago. If it was negative then, it could quite possibly be positive now if you just hadn't developed enough antibodies to test positive at the time. There's just too much crazy stuff that happens in the world today, and I am Queen Paranoia. I'd rather know and deal with it, than not know and be blind to what could be happening to me.
I was tested when I got pregnant with my son, it was part of the routine bloodwork in TN. Don't know about here. I don't believe they do much testing unless you ask them too during a standard yearly exam. The pap smear is to detect cancer cells only (which can be caused by a STD virus) so if you have cervical cancer, I would definately ask for some more tests.
A pap also tests individually for clamidiya and gonereha (sorry I can't spell these things, lol). HPV, which can be spread sexually and causes some forms of cervical cancer, has to be an additional test. You have to make sure you ask them to do an HPV test. And Ken, no I am not advocating tattooing people with HIV, but let's face it; a lot of folks don't get tested because they're scared of what the results might say. After 9-11, people lined up to give blood and several found out they were infected because they received letters from the Red Cross informing them that they couldn't use their blood and to see a doctor immediatley. I agree with education, but I think it goes hand in hand, more education and easier testing.
So, back to the Government requiring this testing... I expect that we are going to have to pay for this required test? I understand requiring testing for a highly communicable disease, but this is not one that you can accidentally pick up from sneezed on salad bars or unwashed door knobs... aside from the occasional person who gets it from a cheating partner, most people know that they are acting in a way that will put them at risk...why should I have to pay for a yearly test, if I know that I'm not at risk (at this point, if I do get it, I know that the conversation with the doctor will be small potatoes compared to the one I'd have with my beloved spouse when I get home... :twisted: ). Once again, I'd have to vote for the government to get out of my business and stay out of my wallet...
I see your point, but I'd say, think about it more in the sense of testing for your children's generation, not yours. I'm with you on the whole spouse conversation thing And as far as footing the bill for the testing, I don't see why we as taxpayers would have to pay for it. Just include it in the normal panel of things that gets done when you go for your yearly physical.
I think they are talking about a recommendation, not mandatory testing. Here's the headline & sub-head: Kind of like recommendations for other kinds of screenings, like mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. I think you'd have to have real good insurance to follow all the federal recommendations!
you know... I think I am catching on to what they are doing.... and what you just said ken makes a whole bunch of sense. When I read the article they said you have to sign a separate consent form for a HIV test. They want it covered under the standard of care consent form. I'm a guessing so that they can possibly "treat them differently" ?? Because it was "recommended" to me when I got pregnant (both times) to get it done because you never know how you could have contracted it. And that way they can "prepare" for the possiblity of an HIV postive baby. I had to sign a form and check whether I wanted the test or not. Or they could just want it to get better statistics?? :?
If you (not ya'll) are screwing around with every tom, dick and harry then you (not ya'll) wouldn't need to be tested. :?
HG- Let's say that a 21 year old girl has sex with her very first boyfriend, who happened to be a recovering herion user and he never got tested. Just once, he had a dirty needle. Now both of them have HIV. It ain't all about keeping your legs closed. (Although that can't hurt, lol)
And it isn't just from sex, sometimes HIV can come and bite you from unexpected sources such as Lester Maddox's cancer treatment in the Bahamas (never actually developed the disease) or blood product medicine and recent concerns about body parts from unknown sources.
I know they say you can't get it from toilet seats or door knobs or drinking after someone but I am a bit of a paranoid idiot like that. I feel like if I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all with some things and I am so worried I'll get it from one of those type of places. I open doors with my sleeve and have taught my kid to do the same. :lol:
PS: I am not saying my daycare has a HIV postive kid ... I am just saying some parents, the daycare and I have had convos of "what if" :wink:
Unfortunately, that does not mean you are guaranteed to never get AIDS. STDs is a misnomer, since you can contract almost** all of them without sexual contact, they are just transmitted most commonly that way. **I say "almost" because, while I can't think of any off hand, there may well be one out there somewhere.
Maybe not, but it sure improves the odds, also, when having any type of surgery i also donate my own blood ahead of time, another safety precaution.
