General Discussion

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)

27. Not everybody has been exposed.

Tue Apr 30, 2013, 11:49 AM

Apr 2013

There are people who are celibate and have been for decades, have never been transfused, have never done IV drugs, have never been tattooed, etc.

Maybe I don't have a brain for believing that, in the absence of symptoms and possible exposure, a mandatory HIV screening test would be a waste on them. Same with an HBV test, and HCV test, a malaria test, or any other tests for potentially fatal, blood and fluid borne diseases.

Or maybe, as a med lab tech who runs those tests and others, I have a fully functioning brain.

There are certain lifestyle risk factors that may make it worthwhile to be periodically screened. In fact, those lifestyle risk factors will get you banned from donating blood, regardless of screening or any test results.

But if you don't live those lifestyles, haven't been exposed, and haven't got symptoms, the test is a waste. You are better off spending your money a CA125 to screen for cancer. Just my humble, brainless opinion, of course.

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Federal panel says everyone 15 to 65 should have HIV test [View all] Baitball Blogger Apr 2013 OP

Yep, everyone should be tested next doctors visit, or ER room snooper2 Apr 2013 #1

Not just no, but HELL NO. Occulus Apr 2013 #6

Absolutely yes, it's for the common good... snooper2 Apr 2013 #7

Stigma. Seriously, how old are you? Mandatory HIV testing is an old old fear. Occulus Apr 2013 #9

It's 2013 I thought we mostly past all of that, plus snooper2 Apr 2013 #12

Oh nowhere near. Some parts of the country may be past it, Occulus Apr 2013 #13

Past what? In most States it is legal to discriminate against LGBT people in any and all ways. Legal Bluenorthwest Apr 2013 #14

And your HIV test was when? Or scheduled for when? WinkyDink Apr 2013 #25

Wife and I had all blood work, tests, full workups done back in 09' snooper2 Apr 2013 #26

Like I get to go to the doctor.. Fumesucker Apr 2013 #10

well I guess that's one way to live up to your name, lol magical thyme Apr 2013 #16

cancer isn't communicable galileoreloaded Apr 2013 #23

then don't fuck or kiss me. I am celibate and have been for decades. magical thyme Apr 2013 #28

guess again KT2000 Apr 2013 #34

if you feel you are at risk of exposure, then by all means get tested magical thyme Apr 2013 #36

the good reason is $$$$ HiPointDem Apr 2013 #50

Nope JustAnotherGen Apr 2013 #2

selfish galileoreloaded Apr 2013 #24

I don't have aids JustAnotherGen Apr 2013 #29

no. what is selfish is refusing to take responsibility for your own actions magical thyme Apr 2013 #31

I also wanted to say JustAnotherGen Apr 2013 #32

I don't see anything wrong with this. HappyMe Apr 2013 #3

and who will pay for this? Because of a CDC recommendation that everyone should have hepatitis C still_one Apr 2013 #4

False positives will overwhelm real positives Recursion Apr 2013 #5

and that is another good point, false positive, or false negatives for that matter, and it does still_one Apr 2013 #11

You can get false positive or false negative HappyMe Apr 2013 #17

but other medical tests aren't mandatory magical thyme Apr 2013 #20

I think anybody with a brain in HappyMe Apr 2013 #22

Not everybody has been exposed. magical thyme Apr 2013 #27

Gee, at a certain age people should have mammograms, colonoscopies, etc. should that be forced still_one Apr 2013 #42

ah, yes, didn't think of that. Then all the false positives can go on magical thyme Apr 2013 #18

I'm 31 years old and had like three or four of them. redgreenandblue Apr 2013 #8

I don't believe they are recommending mandatory testing IDemo Apr 2013 #15

I get a blood test with my yearly physical... Javaman Apr 2013 #19

It's like they take a pint of blood anyway at the annual physical tammywammy Apr 2013 #21

"Everyone" doesn't need to get tested. Quantess Apr 2013 #30

Exactly, and there is a cost associated with that. still_one Apr 2013 #43

Wow. Think real hard about the underlying assumption. SheilaT Apr 2013 #33

Have you been to a dentist? Coyotl Apr 2013 #38

are you suggesting people under 15 or over 65 haven't been to a dentist? magical thyme Apr 2013 #41

Are you saying that there are a significant number of dentists who do not autoclave their still_one Apr 2013 #45

Not recently. SheilaT Apr 2013 #46

No thanks. Zoeisright Apr 2013 #35

+100. nt Skip Intro Apr 2013 #48

Not until we have Single Payer. Until then, insurers will STILL find a way to discriminate against kestrel91316 Apr 2013 #37

Thank you. Been saying the same thing for years. closeupready Apr 2013 #39

Naturally, some private sector entity will profit off all those tests. closeupready Apr 2013 #40

it urges a one time screening for people 15-65 unless they are in a high risk group La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2013 #44

Give blood and you will be tested for free. former9thward Apr 2013 #47

Good idea. Baitball Blogger Apr 2013 #49

Test early, test often, test all partners, before you have unprotected sex. grahamhgreen Apr 2013 #51

Well, let's see. GaYellowDawg Apr 2013 #52

Every time I get a cold, there's a little part of me that wonders, "OMG, is it AIDS?" Ian David Apr 2013 #53

60s? HockeyMom Apr 2013 #54