University Daily Kansan/Wednesday, Aug. 19, 1987 9 AIDS testing offered free in Lawrence Associate campus editor By PAUL BELDEN AIDS tests are free and anonymous at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, the department's director of nurses said recently. Anyone wishing to be tested should go to the health department, 336 Missouri St., or call 843-0721 and ask for Ann. Director Barbara Mikkelson said, "All she would need is some name, and it doesn't have to be a real name. In fact, we encourage people not to give their real names." People who want to receive tests are counseled by a nurse before the test is administered, and test results are given only in person, she said. Anita Brown, clinical laboratory supervisor at Watkins Hospital, said that AIDS tests also would be available at Watkins Hospital beginning this fall. Although the details of the testing procedure have not been worked out at this time, Brown said, the testing procedure probably would be similar to that of other laboratory tests conducted at Watkins. Someone seeking to be tested would have to see a doctor first to get authorization. In that sense, Brown said, the testing procedure would not be anonymous, although it would be confidential. "No names leave this hospital," she said. "We use a number system to identify lab samples. It's a strictly confidential doctor-patient relationship." Mikkelson said the Watkins AIDS test would be good for people who needed documented proof that they were not infected with the AIDS virus. For instance, some countries require such documentation before they allow a foreigner inside their borders. An anonymous test would be use less for that purpose. Mikkelson said AIDS tests for documentation can also be arranged at the Health Department, Mikkelson said. Such tests are essential, but they would be not be free. Louise Caola, St. Louis senior and an intern for the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross, said, "I've heard that some people have encouraged others and said, 'Just go give blood. They'll test it for you.' Well, that's dangerous. We would like people to get tested first, then give blood." Another method of testing for AIDS may have been used by some. The Red Cross definitely discourages a person from donating blood just to find out if they test positive for the AIDS virus. Caola said the Red Cross began testing its blood for antibodies in March 1985. Because of high demand, most donated blood is used quickly, she said, therefore it is reasonably safe to assume that none of the fresh whole blood in storage was donated before then. People whom the AIDS scare has made saquamish about being transfused with others' blood should consider an alternative called autologous blood transfusions, Caola said. But red blood cells can last three years if they are frozen, she said, and Red Cross officials are contemplating destroying all frozen blood products that are dated before March 1985. In this type of transfusion, patients are given their own blood, which has been drawn a pint at a time over a month. But this could work only when a person undergoes scheduled surgery, not in emergencies, she said. The Red Cross would need a doctor's permission to draw blood for an autologous transfusion, she said. Current information about AIDS provided By PAUL BELDEN With respect to AIDS, Kansas is a relatively safe place to be. Since June 1981, 68 Kansans have been infected with the AIDS virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga. That is two-tenths of a percent of all the cases of AIDS in the United States since that time. But the number of AIDS diagnoses in adults and adolescents in Kansas has grown from 19 in the year ending May 11, 1986, to 40 in the year ending May 11, 1987. Those 40 cases represented three-tenths of one percent of all AIDS diagnoses in the nation in 1987. This is the latest information about AIDS, in the form of questions and answers, compiled by the American Red Cross from studies by the Centers for Disease Control. Q — Can I get AIDS by eating from a plate used by a person with AIDS or by being in a hot tub, swimming pool, bathroom, etc.? A — No. The AIDS virus is not spread by air or water. It does not spread on surfaces, such as toilets, sinks or other bathroom facilities, telephones or swimming pools. The virus is spread through an exchange of blood as would occur through sharing contaminated intravenous drug needles. The only body fluids documented to spread the virus are blood, semen and vaginal secretions. Q - 1 gave blood a year ago and haven't heard anything. Does that mean I'm negative? Does the American Red Cross always notify you if you're positive? Are there different tests? A — All donor blood collected by the American Red Cross has been tested for the AIDS antibody since the test was licensed in the spring of 1985. A preliminary test is taken on each unit donated. If positive, a second test is made. If the tests are repeatedly reactive, the Western Blot confirmatory test is performed. All donors are notified if the Western Blot test is positive for the AIDS antibody. Associate campus editor Because I'm not homosexual, I'm not at risk am I? Who is at risk? If I only slept with one person, once over a year ago, should I be worried about having AIDS? On the basis of studies of AIDS cases in the United States since 1981, the Public Health Service has identified certain behaviors that put people at increased risk for infection with AIDS virus. Because having sex with a person at increased risk increases your own risk — and because many Americans are carriers of the AIDS virus — it pays to know your sex partner well. If you are a healthy person with no known risk factors for AIDS, your best course for avoiding AIDS infection is a faithful monogamous sexual relationship with a person who is not infected with the AIDS virus. It only takes one encounter with an infected person in order to transmit the AIDS virus. You may consider having the test if you have any question about being at risk of infection. Q — Are you sure you can't get AIDS from donating blood? A — All of the needles, syringes, tubing and containers used by American Red Cross blood donation centers are sterile, used only once and thrown away. There is no chance of infection. No one should fear getting AIDS from donating blood. There is no chance of getting AIDS in this way, and the need for blood to save lives is great. Q — If I have a cut, can I get AIDS from touching someone who has AIDS? A — The AIDS virus is not spread through normal daily contact at work, in school or at home. You should, however, learn and follow good health and hygiene practices, as with any infectious disease. Q — Can I get AIDS from deep kissing? A — It is not probable. Both partners would have to have open cuts or sores in their mouths for the virus to be transmitted by kissing. No cases of transmission have been reported in this way. Q — I hear you can only get AIDS through having anal sex. Is that right? sexual contact involving the exchange of blood, semen or vaginal secretions; sharing of contaminated needies and syringes by users of intravenous drugs; transfusion of blood or blood products contaminated by the virus; and transmission from infected mothers to their infants. A — No, anal sex is not the only way you can become infected with the AIDS virus, but it is an especially high-risk behavior. Scientific studies have shown that the virus is spread from one person to another through Q. What are the symptoms of AIDS? A — Many individuals infected with the AIDS virus have no symptoms and feel well. Some develop some of the following symptoms that persist for more than two weeks: fever, including night sweating; weight loss for no apparent reason; swollen lymph glands in the neck, groin or armpit; fatigue or tiredness; diarrhea; white spots or unusual blemishes in the mouth; or purplish spots on the skin. Q — If I have a blood transfusion, will the blood be safe? The Mail Box A — Today, the risk of getting AIDS from a blood transfusion has been greatly reduced. All donated blood and blood products are tested for the AIDS virus antibody, and donors are screened for risk factors. The risk of getting AIDS from a blood transfusion has always been small. Only two percent of all cases of AIDS have resulted from blood transfusions. Another one percent of cases have been hemophilia patients who received blood-clotting-factor concentrates to treat their disease. 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