The Importance of HIV Testing in the Management of AIDS (Essay Sample)

Name Instructor’s name Course Date HIV Testing Human immunodeficiency virus is contracted from an infected person through bodily fluids: blood semen, virginal fluids and breast milk. It has become a menace in the whole world with health practitioners looking for every possible means to eradicate it. In order to find a solution, experts have tried to encourage people to be tested. Once they are tested; those who test positive for the virus can begin treatment; which include undergoing antiretroviral therapy(Gardner et al.). This is very important since it can increase the chances of survival for the victim. Therefore testing for HIV infections has become, the primary objective around the world for fighting the deadly virus. In consultation with other constituencies and agencies, CDC and CSTE (council of state and territorial epidemiologist) recommended that all states and territories should carry out HIV surveillance, in addition to AIDS surveillance(Fleming et al.). Therefore in line with this recommendations, HIV testing and monitoring is very important and aids in the monitoring and management of AIDS. There was a reduction of HIV incidences in 2006 and 2008 by more than one third, which was as a result of changes in laws to facilitate testing of HIV and policies set up to promote HIV testing (Das et al.)   Targeting high risk groups is one of the best methods for identifying people who are not aware of their HIV status. In high risk groups, such as commercial sex workers, the rate of infection is very high; since they are highly exposed to people who might be infected and transfer of the virus, through exchange of bodily fluids such as semen and virginal fluids. Most of the individuals in this high risk groups, don’t know their HIV status and may spread the viral infection without knowing. It becomes very important to test HIV status of high risk groups; since the rate of infection is very high within the groups and most members of the groups don’t have time to go for testing; some of them are afraid to know their status. Conducting routine testing of all U.S resident from the age of 13-64, in my own view is a waste of resources; since some of the people that will be tested are not even exposed to the risk of being infected with the virus. It becomes a wild goose chase. It is not an effective method and waste a lot of time testing everyone at the expense of the high risk groups, which are more likely to be infected. Private Standalone HIV testing kits should be developed and people trained on how to use them. ...