What Works for Women and Girls

Early Testing and Testing in the Era of TreatmentAcute HIV infection, when HIV is highly transmissible, can be tested as early as nine daysfollowing HIV acquisition via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (Cohen, 2009). However,this early stage of acute infection is when few know their HIV-positive serostatus. “Rapid, inexpensive,point-of-care tests that can determine both acute and established HIV infection statusare already in development. Rapids tests will also be available to determine the HIV viral leveland…CD4 count” (Mastro et al., 2008). Further guidelines to testing can be found at the WHOwebsite http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/vct/en/.It is important to note that some of the studies in this chapter were done before treatmentwas available. Now that treatment has become more available and accessible in many countries,it is expected that testing will increase. Treatment, alone, however will not be the onlymotivating factor in testing. Even in the absence of treatment, testing to know one’s status canimprove one’s own health and may prevent HIV transmission.150 CHAPTER 6 HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING FOR WOMEN