| Transcript |
8 MONTROSE VOICE/JUNE 13. 1986
The
Medicine Chest
A weekly health information column sponsored by The
Montrose Clinic.
So-Called 'AIDS Test' is
Only a Test for Exposure
A weekly health information
column sponsored by The Montrose
Clinic. Please send your health
questions, anonymously, to:
The Medicine Chest
c/o The Montrose Voice
408 Avondale
Houston, TX 77006
How long after exposure to
AIDS would it take for the test
to be positive?
It is important to remember that
the "AIDS test" is not really a test
for AIDS. All the HTLV-III/LAV
test does is determine whether or
not you have antibodies to AIDS;
i.e., whether or not you have been
exposed to the virus.
Exposure to the AIDS virus does
not mean that you will get AIDS. It
usually takes 2-8 weeks for the
antibodies to develop after exposure, although in some cases it has
taken up to 6 months. Because the
test sometimes shows false negatives, it is suggested that those who
test negatively (do not have antibodies) repeat the test in six months.
AIDS
Foundation
Seeks
Volunteers
"Houston's AIDS Foundation
always needs new volunteers," says
Joe Lane, board member responsible for the group's volunteer program.
I am married, but I have had
several gay experiences (my
wife doesn't know). My wife
wants to have a baby, and I am
worried about having a child
with AIDS. What should I do?
As we have said before, the AIDS
antibody test cannot tell you if you
have AIDS or if you are going to
develop AIDS. But it does tell you if
you are a carrier. Perhaps it would
be appropriate for you to take the
test to see if you have been exposed.
If you have antibodies, then your
wife is at risk of having been
infected with the virus. This is the
time to sit down and have an honest
discussion with her about her risks
and the risks to your future children. Perhaps she should take the
antibody test since she is in a high
risk group. If she tests positivie, it
does not mean that she has AIDS or
will develop AIDS. But she is at
higher risk of developing AIDS
than the average woman. This
means that your future children are
in a high risk group as well.
At this time, medical experts
SportsVoice
"Besides the ongoing need for
'Buddies,' we need 'Helpers' to offer
transportation and domestic assistance, plus volunteers to serve in the
areas of fund raising, public relations, education and to assist in the
foundation's office," says Lane.
Anyone who is interested in
becoming a volunteer of the AIDS
Foundation Houston can call 524-
AIDS to request an application.
Stein & Toklas
DETECTIVES
Join Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas as
they sleuth through the French countryside,
investigating the disappearance of the father
of their handsome gardener. A new and
unusual novel by Samuel M. Steward,
author of the Phil Andros stories, and a real-
life friend of Stein and Toklas.
MURDER IS MURDER IS MURDER
$6.95 in bookstores, or use this coupon to order by mail.
Here is $7.50 for Murder is Murder is Murder, by Samuel Steward,
name address
adamantly recommend that people
who test positive for the HTLV-III
antibody do not have children, especially if it is the female partner who
tests positive. This is not an easy
issue, but it is one that must be confronted before you make decisions
about children. You may want to
contact the Montrose Counseling
Center for support.
AIDS
Foundation
Holding an
Open House
The AIDS Foundation, Houston, is
inviting the community to an open
house and reception Monday, June
16.
The open house will be held 7:00-
9:00 p.m. at the group's offices at
3400 Montrose, suite 700.
The open house will allow the
foundation's supporters and contributors to see the new office and to
meet the new board of directors.
Curtis Dickson, the foundation's
new executive director, will also be
present to meet the public and to
discuss the future direction of the
organization.
"The foundation has had an
opportunity to express its gratitude
to its volunteers through Volunteer
Appreciation Night. It is hoped that
this open house will be an opportunity to say 'thank you' to those persons who are not volunteers, but
who are still supporters ofthe foundation," stated a press release from
board member Patrick di Battista.
"The evening will be an opportunity to socialize as well as to gather
valuble information. The community built this foundation. They
should come out and see something
that they can be proud of," he said.
Alyson Publications, Dept. P-5, 40 Plympton St., Boston. MA 02118
W.Th A NEW d.RECTOR
A NEW offiCE
A NEW NAME
AN<J A NEW boARd of dlRECTORS
Isn't It t.me tIhat you kNEW us bETTER?
Tht BOARd Of DIRECTORS of ThE
AIDS FouNdATi'oN Houston
coRdiAlly iNviTES you to an
OpEN House Reception
on
MoNdAy, June 16
7pM-9pM
AT OUR OffiCE loCATEd AT
5400 Montrose, Suite 700
Houston, Texas 77006
|
