Ritenour offers HIV tests, counseling

For University students who have ever wondered about their sexual health status, the time to learn has arrived.

The HIV Antibody Testing and Counseling Service, located in Ritenour Building, is scheduling spring appointments for HIV antibody testing.

The service offers free, anonymous testing and counseling in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, said Elaine Jurs, assistant director of the office of health promotion and education.

A blood test detects the presence of antibodies produced by the immune system against HIV.

Many students worry about HIV but avoid testing because of fear, Jurs said.

Agreeing with Jurs, Danielle Golding (sophomore-administration of justice) said students can convince themselves they are not at risk for the virus.

"Some people say (HIV) will never happen to me," Golding said.

Although students may be wary, the benefits of testing outweigh the fears, Jurs said.

"Peace of mind is probably the biggest benefit for most people," Jurs said.

Stressing the importance of testing, test counselor Gretchen Leffler said it's a frightening, but important experience.

"If they don't know, they could be actively transmitting (HIV) and continuing the spread of the disease," Leffler (senior-nutrition) said.

For those receiving the test, counseling is given by student volunteers. The counselors undergo extensive training under Jurs' supervision.

Training includes learning about the progression and transmission of HIV and an overview of medications, Leffler said. Counselors also receive extensive training on confidentiality, she added, since they may encounter their patients later on campus.

"We are required to maintain strict confidentiality," she said. "If it is broken, we are immediately dismissed."

Currently there are five test counselors and three in training. The small number of counselors limits the amount of testing the service completes, Jurs said.

"We can pretty well manage the number of calls we get with five to eight counselors," Jurs said.

At the initial appointment, a counselor helps the student determine their individual risk factor, Leffler said, which involves a discussion of past sexual partners and activities to put risks into perspective, she said. Then a blood sample is drawn in Ritenour's laboratories and results are given at a post-test appointment two weeks later, Leffler said.

The waiting period can prove quite nerve-wracking for many people, Jurs said. In order to reduce anxiety, she advises students keep themselves busy and confide in a friend. Most importantly, students should realistically analyze their risk factors, she said.

"We really try, before they leave the office, to remind them . . . it's more likely they're negative," Jurs said.

While this is true for students at low risk of infection, those at high risk will receive different advice, centering on available treatments if the result is positive, Jurs added.

Acquiring immediate treatment is a benefit for those receiving positive results, Jurs said, but for others, the main benefit is knowledge.