This Month's HIV/AIDS Facts

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Question: If a person’s AIDS test is positive, does someone tell his or her sex partners?

Basic Answer: Over half the states have specific laws that make it a crime for knowingly exposing or transmitting HIV to others. People who have HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) can get help in contacting sex or needle-sharing partners. With the voluntary cooperation of people who have HIV, partner notification programs help notify their partners of possible exposure to HIV. Like people who have HIV, partners also receive HIV prevention counseling, including information about risk reduction, HIV testing and referrals to other services.

Detailed Answer: The decision to share information about HIV status is a personal choice. People who have HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) can get help in notifying sex or needle-sharing partners of their possible exposure to HIV through partner notification programs. Like people who have HIV, their partners also receive prevention counseling, including information about risk reduction, HIV testing and referrals to other services.

With the voluntary cooperation of people with HIV, partners can be notified either by the person with HIV (patient referral) or by trained public health workers (provider referral). Health workers encourage people with HIV to tell their partners about their possible exposure. Health workers also offer support to people with HIV in notifying partners. People who decide to have health workers contact their partners provide names and addresses to the health workers, who notify the partners, being careful to protect the confidentiality of everyone involved.

People with HIV may not be able to name all their partners, and health workers may not be able to locate them all. Providing current and accurate partner information increases the chances of all partners knowing about their risks. People who want to know about partner notification services in their area can contact their local or state public health departments.

Many states have laws that could be used to enforce the isolation of the few people with HIV who knowingly put their sex or needle-sharing partners at risk. Over half the states have specific laws that make it a crime for knowingly exposing or transmitting HIV to others.

SOURCES:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR, 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-06. "Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines--2002."
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR, 2001; vol. 50, no. RR-19. "Revised Guidelines for HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral."
• National Conference of State Legislatures, Health Policy Tracking Service. "HIV/AIDS Criminal Transmission and Exposure." Speissegger, L., et al. March 15, 2001.
• AIDS Education and Prevention, 1997; vol. 9 (suppl. B). "Partner Notification for HIV Prevention: A Critical Reexamination." West, G.R., and Stark, K.A.

For current statistics, contact the CDC National AIDS Hotline (800/342-AIDS), Spanish (800/344-7432), TTY/TDD (800/243-7889); the CDC Voice and Fax Information System (888/232-3228); the CDC National Prevention Information Network (800/458-5231) or its Web site at www.cdcnpin.org; or the CDC HIV/AIDS Web site at www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm.