Getting
into Care
Learn what to expect when
starting HIV care
What's an HIV Care Team?
Your HIV care team will help make sure you are getting the right treatment and any necessary support services. Your team may include:
Primary HIV Health Care Provider
This can be a Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant.
Their role includes:
- Prescribing HIV medications (also known as antiretroviral therapy or ART) and managing any side effects.
This can be a Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician Assistant.
Their role includes:
- Prescribing HIV medications (also known as antiretroviral therapy or ART) and managing any side effects.
- Monitoring your progress toward viral load suppression.
- Checking your health for opportunistic infections and other HIV-related illnesses.
- Connecting you with other providers to assist with any other needs you may have.
Other HIV Care Providers:
- Allied health professionals like Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, and others.
- Social service providers such as Social Workers, Case Managers, Patient Navigators, and more.
- Monitoring your progress toward viral load suppression.
- Checking your health for opportunistic infections and other HIV-related illnesses.
- Connecting you with other providers to assist with any other needs you may have.
Other HIV Care Providers:
- Allied health professionals like Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists, and others.
- Social service providers such as Social Workers, Case Managers, Patient Navigators, and more.
What is expected
of me
when starting
HIV Care?
Take Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed
It’s important to take your HIV medicine exactly as prescribed to help you get and stay virally suppressed.
If you have any concerns about your treatment or experience side effects, don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider or pharmacist.
Keep Track of Your Medical Appointments
Ask your provider when you need to return for a follow-up appointment. Attending every appointment will help you stay in control of your health.
Using a physical calendar or a reminder app may help you keep you up to date on your appointments.
What is expected
of me
when
starting
HIV Care?
Take Your HIV Medicine as Prescribed
It’s important to take your HIV medicine exactly as prescribed to help you get and stay virally suppressed.
If you have any concerns about your treatment or experience side effects, don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider or pharmacist.
Keep Track of Your Medical Appointments
Ask your provider when you need to return for a follow-up appointment. Attending every appointment will help you stay in control of your health.
Using a physical calendar or a reminder app may help you keep you up to date on your appointments.
What will happen during my medical visits?
During your visit, your provider will perform routine medical exams and ask questions to monitor your ongoing care.
Your visit may include:
Going over your lab results and explaining what they mean.
Offering tips to help you stay on top of your treatment.
Asking about your health history.
A physical exam to check for any other health issues.
A blood test for your viral load and CD4 count (or referral to a lab).
Helping you find support services if you need them.
What type of tests
help
monitor HIV?
As part of your ongoing care, you should expect to get routine blood tests to monitor your health and guide your treatment plan.
These tests include:
CD4 Count
- CD4 cells, also known as T-cells, help your body fight infections.
- HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in your blood.
- A low CD4 count means you’re at higher risk for other infections.
Viral Load Test
- This test measures how much HIV is in your blood.
- When the viral load is so low that very little to no HIV can be detected in the blood (under 20 copies), it’s called an undetectable viral load.
- When the viral load is so low that no HIV can be detected in the blood, it’s called an undetectable viral load.
- If your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner.
Viral Load Test
- This test measures how much HIV is in your blood.
- When the viral load is so low that very little to no HIV can be detected in the blood (under 20 copies), it’s called an undetectable viral load.
- When the viral load is so low that no HIV can be detected in the blood, it’s called an undetectable viral load.
- If your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner.
What type of tests help
monitor
HIV?
As part of your ongoing care, you should expect to get routine blood tests to monitor your health and guide your treatment plan.
These tests include:
CD4 Count
- CD4 cells, also known as T-cells, help your body fight infections.
- HIV reduces the number of CD4 cells in your blood.
- A low CD4 count means you’re at higher risk for other infections.
Viral Load Test
- This test measures how much HIV is in your blood.
- When the viral load is so low that very little to no HIV can be detected in the blood (under 20 copies), it’s called an undetectable viral load.
- When the viral load is so low that no HIV can be detected in the blood, it’s called an undetectable viral load.
- If your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass HIV on to a sexual partner.
Want to Learn More about HIV?
Check out these other pages:
Learning you’re HIV positive can be scary but you’re not alone. We can walk you through what to do next. Learn more
Get HIV care and support regardless of your ability to pay. Learn more
Learn about HIV stigma and how to challenge it. Learn more
If you’re HIV positive you have the right to live a life free of discrimination. Find out how you’re protected. Learn more
With treatment you can reduce the amount of HIV in your blood to levels so low it can’t even be detected. Learn more
HIV Resource Finder
HIV Resource Finder
For additional HIV care and support services, including food delivery, help paying for medication, mental health support, housing, and more, try our resource tool.
