HIV Resources & Support: A Comprehensive Global Directory

More than one million people in the United States have HIV, and thousands will die from AIDS-related complications this year alone. This guide contains information regarding HIV resources, medication, and legal rights.

Understanding HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks CD4 white blood cells, gradually weakening the body’s immune system over time. Although there is currently no cure, HIV has been a manageable chronic condition since 1996.

What’s the difference between HIV and AIDS?

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the final and most severe stage of HIV if left unmanaged. When HIV progresses to AIDS, the body’s immune system is badly damaged to the point that it can’t fight off normal infections.

In the United States, most people with HIV do NOT develop AIDS. Taking HIV medication (Antiretroviral Therapy) halts HIV from progressing or further damaging CD4 cells.

How is HIV Transmitted?

You can only give HIV by coming in contact with certain bodily fluids from a person with a detectable HIV viral load. These fluids include:

• Semen
• Pre-Seminal Fluid
• Blood
• Rectal Fluid
• Vaginal Fluid
• Breast Milk

HIV can NOT be spread by kissing, hugging, or sharing food. Behaviors that put you at higher risk of HIV include anal sex, vaginal sex, and sharing needles. Kissing and oral sex have statistically nonsignificant chances of transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus.

What Does Viral Load Mean?

The term “viral load” refers to how many copies of the human immunodeficiency virus someone has. HIV is diagnosed once someone has more than 200 copies of human immunodeficiency virus per milliliter of blood.

Individuals with a viral load of 200 or more can transmit HIV to other people. Since their viral load can be detected on most HIV tests, we refer to these as “detectable” viral loads.

Undetectable viral loads refer to individuals living with HIV who have FEWER than 200 copies per milliliter. Due to the low copy count, these individuals can test negative on HIV tests and are hence “undetectable.” People with undetectable viral loads have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to other people, even without regular precautions like condoms, PEP, and PrEP. Undetectable viral loads are achieved by taking antiretroviral therapy medication regularly.

What Are Symptoms of HIV?

The only way to know your HIV status for sure is to get tested. Despite misconceptions, you cannot tell if someone has HIV just by looking at them. Most people with HIV do not experience major symptoms.

In symptomatic individuals, HIV often causes flu-like symptoms while in its earliest stages. Within two to four weeks of HIV infection, two-thirds of people may experience:

• Fever
• Chills
• Rash
• Night Sweats
• Muscle Aches
• Sore Throat
• Fatigue
• Swollen Lymph Nodes
• Mouth Ulcers

HIV can be detected 10 to 33 days after infection. Remember that PEP can prevent HIV up to three days after infection exposure.

After the first four weeks, HIV enters its chronic latency stage. Flu-like symptoms vanish as the virus multiplies over the next 10 to 15 years. Without medication intervention, chronic HIV progresses to AIDS. Individuals with AIDS can also live long lives with consistent medication, but life expectancy drops to three years without intervention.

Who Is at Risk of HIV?

Anyone can get HIV. HIV does not discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, or neighborhood. However, some groups of people are considered high-risk.

According to the CDC:

• Nearly half of new HIV diagnoses come from the US South, from states like Georgia and Louisiana. The Midwest and Northeast currently have the lowest rate of new diagnoses.
• Men who have sex with men (MSM, queer men, bi+ men) account for 65% of new HIV diagnoses. Conversely, 22% of new diagnoses come from straight individuals engaging in heterosexual sex.
• Individuals who inject drugs and share needles account for 7% of new HIV diagnoses annually.
• HIV disproportionally affects communities of color due to redlining and healthcare disparities. 39% of new HIV diagnoses are Black Americans; 40% of new diagnoses are Latine Americans.
• Most new HIV diagnoses come from individuals between the ages of 25 and 34. The second-highest age group is 24 and under, who made up 20% of new diagnoses in 2022.

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How Do I Prevent HIV?

There are many ways to prevent HIV. By learning how to prevent HIV transmission, you’re helping end the HIV epidemic. The most common ways to prevent HIV include condom use, PEP, PrEP, scheduled wellness testing, and limiting needle/drug equipment sharing.

US readers should visit HIV.gov for official HIV-related care and prevention practices.

What Are PEP & PrEP?

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an anti-HIV medication started within 72 hours of possible HIV exposure. It is taken daily for 28 days and followed up with additional testing and labs for the next three months. The sooner PEP is started after possible infection, the more effective it will be.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily anti-HIV prevention medication that blocks HIV starting seven days of use. PrEP is best for individuals who regularly encounter HIV, like from casual hookups, sharing needles, or inconsistent condom usage.

When taken consistently, PrEP reduces the risk of contracting HIV from sex by 99%. Individuals who share needles see a 74% HIV risk decrease with PrEP use.

Learn more about PEP and PrEP from these sources.

Individuals residing in the United States can use PrEP Locator to find local PrEP providers. NASTAD has information regarding whether non-providers (ex. pharmacies) can prescribe PrEP based on state or territory.

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How Do I Get Tested For HIV?

Getting tested for HIV can be scary, but remember that HIV is NOT a death sentence. People living with HIV experience long and healthy lives as long as they are connected with the tools necessary to keep their HIV managed. People can only start HIV treatment if they know they are living with the virus, so it’s important to get tested.

The CDC recommends EVERYONE be tested for HIV at least once in their lives. High-risk individuals should get tested at least once annually. It is only recommended to get tested more frequently (ex. every three months) if you are at an extreme risk of getting HIV without preventative medication like PrEP.

Getting tested helps end the spread of HIV. Get tested today to keep yourself healthy and protect those you love from contracting HIV.

Types of HIV Tests

There are three types of HIV tests, which can use blood, saliva, or urine to detect a viral load.

HIV tests search for antibodies and antigens that are only produced when infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. However, it takes time for the body to begin producing these after initial infection. This creates a “window period” between contracting HIV and the earliest time it can show up positive on a test. Some tests have smaller window periods than others.

• Antibody tests detect HIV antibodies in the blood or saliva. The majority of rapid HIV tests are antibody tests, including HIV self-test kits.
• Antigen/antibody tests look for BOTH HIV antibodies and antigens in the blood. Antigens are proteins created by the virus, appearing much sooner than antibodies. Antigen/antibody tests are the most common HIV test conducted in US labs.
• Nucleic acid tests (NATs or viral load tests) detect the amount of HIV present in someone’s blood. NATs are useful to monitor the virus once someone is living with HIV and can detect HIV as soon as 10 days after infection. Nucleic acid tests are significantly more expensive than antibody or antigen/antibody tests, so they’re reserved for HIV management.

How to Get an HIV Test

HIV tests are widely available. You can test at home, a primary doctor, hospital, medical clinic, substance use program, or community health center. HIV self-test kits can even be purchased on Amazon or at Walmart. It’s entirely your choice!

Visit gettested.cdc.gov to find an HIV testing site near you. Together TakeMeHome is a CDC program that provides free rapid self-tests to anyone at least 17 years old in the United States.

What Happens If I Test Positive?

Rapid tests, including at-home kits, are positive if there are two complete lines. Even a faint second line means you may have HIV.

1. Take a deep breath. You’re not alone. Remember, modern treatments are available to ensure people live long and happy lives with HIV. Having HIV does not mean you have or will have AIDS.
2. Visit a clinic or healthcare provider to confirm your results with a nucleic acid test.
3. If your results are confirmed as positive, you will be given resources and information about HIV treatment and management.
4. You will be connected with case management, including counseling and HIV support organizations.
5. Healthcare workers are required to keep all medical information confidential unless you give explicit permission otherwise. No one will know about your test or results unless you want them to, including family members or your workplace.
6. Healthcare providers are required to report positive results to local health departments, but your information will be kept confidential. Health departments can assist individuals anonymously contact sexual partners to inform them of potential exposure, although this is generally not required.

What Happens If I Test Negative?

Rapid tests, including at-home kits, are negative if there is one complete line. There should be NO line (however faint) next to “T.”

If your result is negative AND it has been at least three months since your latest possible HIV exposure, you likely do not have HIV. Continue to maintain healthy sexual habits like condom usage, PrEP, and getting tested as needed.

Remember that a negative self-test does not 100% mean you are not infected with HIV. Rapid tests have a larger window period to detect HIV, so it’s possible to get a false negative.

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Do People With HIV Have Legal Rights?

Legal rights vary drastically for people living with HIV based on where they are in the world. People with HIV are discriminated against at work, home, and the doctor’s office; knowing your rights is the first step in defending them.

Individuals living with HIV in the United States are protected by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. These laws are enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office for Civil Rights to prohibit anti-HIV discrimination by all agencies that receive federal funding.

Insurance companies are not allowed to charge more or deny coverage based on HIV status. The Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies from cancelling or rescinding coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies are also forbidden from notifying employers of possible HIV status.

Medicaid programs must include HIV treatment. In states without expanded Medicaid, low-income individuals can obtain care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Employers are not allowed to fire someone because of their HIV status, although small companies with 15 or fewer employees have partial exemptions from the ADA. Employers may only ask standard medical questions related to the core functions of the job. While an employer can refuse to hire someone if they pose a direct health threat, they cannot deny an HIV-positive individual if the risk can be managed with reasonable steps.

Employers are not allowed to tell others about your HIV status. You are not required to disclose your status to your employer, but employers aware of your status are required under the ADA to keep HIV-related information confidential.

Your HIV status is considered personal medical information, so you have the right to keep it private and confidential. HIPAA prohibits healthcare providers from telling others your status without your explicit consent.

Public accommodations that offer goods and services to the public cannot discriminate against people with HIV. This includes restaurants, hotels, stores, gyms, and private schools. These protections also extend to government services and buildings. Private clubs and certain religious organizations are NOT considered public accommodations and are therefore exempt.

The Fair Housing Act prevents anti-HIV discrimination in housing. Landlords are not allowed to refuse to rent, charge more, or evict someone based on HIV status. Landlords also aren’t allowed to ask about the nature or severity of someone’s HIV status or refuse to make reasonable accommodations.

13 states require individuals to disclose their HIV status to current and new sexual partners. Only two states (Indiana and North Carolina) require individuals to inform previous sexual partners of their HIV status. The type of sexual contact that triggers disclosure obligation varies from state to state.

You may have a legal obligation to disclose your HIV status when donating blood/organs/tissue, or sharing injection drug equipment. Arkansas is currently the only state that requires individuals to disclose their HIV status when visiting a physician or dentist in-state.

Having HIV does not impact your ability to care for or adopt children. HIV status alone cannot affect child custody.

HIV status cannot create additional barriers to immigration into the United States. Individuals living with HIV may obtain political asylum in the US if they can prove fear of persecution in their country of origin. Immigration detention facilities are required to have access to health care services, including HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

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HIV & AIDS Resources

HIV Hotlines

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HIV Hotlines in North America

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HIV Hotlines in Europe

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HIV Hotlines in Asia

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HIV Hotlines in Africa

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HIV Hotlines in Oceania

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HIV Organizations & Tools

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HIV Organizations & Tools in North America

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HIV Organizations & Tools in South America

RedLA+ @ redlactrans.org / Network of organizations that focus on transgender people throughout Latin America, especially those who are living with HIV.

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HIV Organizations & Tools in Europe

AIDS Action Europe @ aidsactioneurope.org / Regional network of over 370 NGOs, national networks, and community-based groups to support legislation related to HIV/AIDS in 47 different countries.

European AIDS Treatment Group @ eatg.org / Advocacy and research organization that responds to and develops HIV/AIDS-related initiatives.

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HIV Organizations & Tools in Asia

Asia Pacific Network of People Living with HIV @ apnplus.org / Peer-led organization that improves the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Asia Pacific region.

Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association @ menahra.org / Network of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment organizations in 20 different countries across the Middle East and Northern Africa.

HIV Organizations & Tools in Africa

African Network for the Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS @ anecca.org / Reproductive health organization that serves people living in Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi, Tanzania, and South Sudan.

Middle East and North Africa Harm Reduction Association @ menahra.org / Network of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment organizations in 20 different countries across the Middle East and Northern Africa.

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HIV Organizations & Tools in Oceania

Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations @ healthequitymatters.org.au / Federation of HIV and LGBTQIA+ organizations in Australia and Oceania that provides policy expertise and resource support.

Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network @ psgdn.org / Collective between the countries of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga to advocate for the needs of people living with HIV, especially LGBTQIA+ people.

Frequently Asked Questions