Herro,

So in my short break from uni, I have been tasked with a research assignment. My topic of choice is the testing of HIV/AIDS. I'm looking at how often people get tested, and the factors that might stop people from getting themselves tested. I have most of my information from the patients I have worked with over the past few months, but I would also like a few more stats..

I get tested every 3 months, only because the conditions I work in make the likelihood of me contracting the virus quite high: I'm in contact with blood and other body fluids on a daily basis, and I have been pricked by a used needle before too (Lucky for me, the needle was from an HIV negative patient ).

So, for those of you who don't mind not staying anonymous, could you give me more info please? eg. If you never get tested: why not and are you planning on ever getting tested in the future? Or, if you get tested regularly: what are the reasons (promiscuous lifestyle/working conditions etc.). Oh, and obviously, no names will be used in the assignment, it's not like I know most of your names anyway.

Thanks guys. LETS HOPE TOASTY GETS A GOOD MARK!

I donate blood (A-) and as aids testing is part of the system, I'm pretty well covered.

I voted that I've never been tested but i see they test you when you donate blood. So my answer should be only when I donate blood and the last time I did that was at the NWU in 2004. I've never had intercourse of any kind and I've never come into contact with someone else's exposed blood.

The next time I get tested will probably be for medical aid or life insurance purposes or before I get married. I'll coax my future wife into joining me. It will however all be a ruse to check if she's infected, she may have been a slag before I met her.

i did a test when i was doing a diabetes checkup - also checked my cholestrol and for cancer etc as routine - and only problem i had was type 2 diabetes - but i had to do about 8 different types of blood tests in one day

I was tested last month. I do not have any routine tests though - they happen as-and-when.

Been tested quite a few times over the years when signing up for medical aids and life insurance etc.

Wasn't something I used to go out of my way to do though.

I don't think I've ever been tested... oh wait I did. I think I think only once
I'm AB or was it B+ or... erm no idea sry

Never been tested and I intend keeping it that way

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

Okay maybe I was tested when I still donated blood, but I don't know for sure.

that's about it for me too. Used to donate blood, but haven't in a while. Got tested when I did Life Insurance too.

Only once, when I applied for some PPS scheme. I never got the results and canceled the PPS thing after a month because they were useless. But since no-one informed me that I was positive, I assume I am negative :-p
With my lifestyle I have no reason to worry. When I'm in a fight, only I bleed, so there's no chance of infection that way :-p

I go once a year. I do a full batch of blood works.

Not because I get up to mischief mind you.

But rather just because I would like to know.

I would hate to give anything to my gf and I would also hate to infect her because I didn't know I was infected.

Mostly when signing life insurance policies/home loan etc

Gone a few other times when I have come in to contact with blood or other body fluids after a few scuba rescues.

Otherwise no need, married, no needle use etc etc

What are you studying?

Studying a BCur degree in Nursing.

Thanks for the input so far guys..

Do our motivations help towards the study?

Yeah, totally, I've gotten some pretty good ideas so far. I am soooo gonna ace this bitch!

OTHER bodily fluids after a scuba rescue? Were they just really glad to be rescued or what?

maybe they creamed in wetsuit and they "borrow" each other's suits...

Lol, Im guessing you two are messing around
Ever given mouth to mouth? Saliva the key is, young padawan.

Never been tested, at least not to my knowledge, have had a few blood tests over the years but not sure what they actually tested for.

Update: Got 85%! Woot! Thanks for all the input, innit.

Well done for aceing that "bitch"

wow grats there toastie!

lol, late vote fail

Well done there

I got tested 3 months ago but i found it the biggest mission to get tested at a private hospital one clinic even turned me down ( in one the most hiv infested coutries in the world that is unacceptable). It cost R150 to get tested so from now one im going to a government clinic, you never get turned down and its free :-)

ya and when you get your results... you'd be doubting if the "free" came with perks?

Very true. While the universities are on "Spring Break", I am currently working in a government clinic to fulfill some of the community hours I need to graduate. People hear "government" and they immediately assume it's going to be bad, but I would highly recommend going to a government clinic instead of a private hospital. The staff are extremely friendly, it's completely free and the policy says that you have to help every single person that works through the doors - like Areduis says, you never get turned down.

I'm currently at Parkhurst Clinic and the nurse that does HIV testing is absolutely brilliant. She even offers to test people who haven't asked for it. Velly velly good service offered indeed.

Bring your own needles fishy

ok I bring own needles/suringe/blood

you just test... maybe less likelihood of getting wrong result? unless it gets mixed up by the fekers by which time I would everyone

Ha ha thats the clinic I subsequently went to, they were really good especially with the pre test counseling!

parkhurst has a clinic??? :o