What services do we provide at AIDGwinnett?   

We provide services for the general community, and also specific services for persons living with HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).  Persons living with HIV may be eligible for a wide range of services, including:

We also offer numerous volunteer opportunities and a community-based prevention education program.  Clinical services are made possible by from the Ryan White Title II and Title III funding provided through a partnership with Gwinnett Infectious Diseases, PC.

 How do I get to the AIDGwinnett office?  

What should I know about HIV testing?AIDGwinnett offers anonymous and confidential HIV testing each week on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  Testing is available with (or without) an appointment.  Please arrive by 4:00 PM as our office will be closed at 5:00 PM. 

Two testing options are available: Orasure (free with results in approximately 1 week) and OraQuick Advance ($15 with results in 20 minutes).  If you would like to give a donation, we will accept it and your generosity will be greatly appreciated.  Both of these testing options involve a painless oral swab (no needle; no blood).  In addition, OraQuick and OraSure are more than 99% accurate.  Most people get tested using the anonymous option, which means your name is not recorded. For those who test positive for HIV, we offer case management services as well as medical care management services.

Testing is completely confidential and private.  Anonymous testing is provided.  We do not use a needle or syringe and we do not draw any blood.  This means the process is completely painless, comfortable and convenient.

A counselor will discuss recommendations for risk reduction and will answer any questions you may have regarding HIV/AIDS prevention skills, testing for HIV and information about other types of sexually transmitted infections.  You may also receive other useful information, brochures and other education materials.

 There is absolutely no charge for HIV testing.  But a recommended $20 donation is gratefully appreciated.  Cash or check is accepted.

What is HIV and how is it spread?   HIV stands for “human immunodeficiency virus.”  This is the virus that causes “AIDS” which stands for “acquired immune deficiency syndrome.”  If someone is HIV-positive this means he is living with HIV infection.

A person living with HIV does not have AIDS until the virus seriously damages the body’s immune system.  The immune system helps to protect the human body from illness.  When HIV weakens the immune system, this makes a person vulnerable to a broad range of various different infections, and some of those infections can lead to death.

HIV is transmitted through four specific body fluids: blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.  A person can become HIV positive only by four possible methods:

1. By having unprotected sexual intercourse with a person who is infected.  This is the most common way of becoming HIV infected.
2. By sharing needles or other contaminated injection or skin-piercing equipment.
3. By receiving infected blood or infected blood products.
4. A mother who is living with HIV can transit the virus to her child during pregnancy, during birth or during breastfeeding.

HIV is not transmitted by casual physical contact, coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing a toilet, sharing washing facilities, using eating utensils or consuming food and beverages handled by other people.  If someone you know is living with HIV, you are not at risk of infection through casual, normal daily contact.  Also, HIV is not spread by mosquitoes or other insect bites.

HIV does not discriminate based on any factor, and anybody can become infected with HIV regardless of their age, race or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or other factors.  Anyone can become infected by participating in a behavior of risk.

In the United States, donating blood is completely safe, and you cannot become infected with HIV by merely donating blood.  The risk of becoming infected with HIV by receiving a blood transfusion is considered extremely low in the United States.

If a woman is pregnant and is living with HIV, advanced treatments and medications are available to significantly reduce the risk that her baby will be HIV infected.

In 2003, almost 5 million people acquired HIV.  This means that we now have almost 38 million people living with HIV and AIDS throughout the world.  Despite best efforts from governments, non-profit organizations and healthcare practitioners around the world, there is still no cure for HIV / AIDS and the epidemic is still having tremendous negative global impact.