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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
TACT provides community based, AIDS education and risk reduction programs directed to the general public and individuals at high risk through street Outreach programs, and staffing and planning of community wide educational and response programs.
Education Department
RAYN
RAYN, formerly Project HOPE, is an empowerment program for gay, bisexual, and questioning guys 13-25. This program has been in existence since 1998 and provides fun social events, support networks, and unrestricted sessions on relationships and safer sex. Our goal is to create a stronger, more supportive community here in the Tidewater area. Additional information is available under the RAYN tab on the left of your screen.
Testing
TACT was recently selected as a pilot site for the ORASURE (mouth swab, results in 2 weeks) and the OraQuick Advance (mouth swab, results in 20 minutes) HIV Antibody Test. OraSure is an alternative to blood testing that involves collecting an oral specimen. TACT's staff is trained in prevention counseling and incorporates HIV testing as part of its prevention programs. The OraQuick Advance is administered Monday – Thursday in the Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce office. To schedule an appointment, please call 757/583-1317.
OraSure and OraQuick Advance HIV Testing
What is OraSure?
· HIV antibody test
· mouth swab test
· requires up to 2 weeks to get results
What is OraQuick Advance?
· HIV antibody test
· finger stick blood test OR mouth swab test
· results in 20 minutes
How much do the tests cost?
· free
How is OraSure done?
· a small pad on a plastic stick is placed between the gum and cheek, rubbed in a circular motion, and then allowed to remain in the closed mouth for 3 minutes
· the pad is then placed in a container and sent to the State Health Laboratory where it is tested using techniques similar to those used with blood samples
How is OraQuick Advance done?
· a tiny drop of blood is collected from a finger stick or blood tube
· the testing is done on-site
· can also be performed as a mouth swab
· tests for both HIV1 and HIV2 (HIV2 is found mostly in West Africa)
How do the tests work?
· the mouth swabs do not test for HIV in saliva
· they test for HIV antibodies which would be present in the tissue of the gums and cheek if an HIV infection were present
Are there any complaints about the tests?
· your mouth may feel dry after the test, and you may not like the salty taste
How accurate are the tests?
· OraSure mouth swab test is very accurate
· OraSure is not as accurate as a blood test
o for example, it will miss finding 1 to 2 people with HIV out of 100 positive persons tested
· as with blood tests, six to twelve weeks must pass after infection has occurred before enough antibodies have been produced for the test to detect them
· an OraSure test performed three months after the potentially infectious event (sex without a condom or shared intravenous drug needles/equipment) is about 95% accurate
· a test at 6 months will be the most accurate
· OraQuick Advance has proven to be highly accurate . . . on a par with or slightly more accurate than standard blood tests
· all positive OraQuick tests require us to draw a blood test as a confirming test
Why get an HIV test?
· knowing if you have HIV will allow you to protect your own health and to prevent others from becoming infected
· HIV infection responds best to medical treatments if they are begun as soon as possible after the infection takes place
· if you are infected, you can get the information and help you need to stay healthy
· by following safer sex and/or drug-use practices, you can protect others from HIV and stop the spread of the epidemic
TACT MOBILE EDUCATION RV
TACT has available an RV for testing and community educational events. We hold regular testing and HIV education events in the community.
If you or your group have an interest in having our MOBILE EDUCATION UNIT at your location please call us at (757) 583 1317 ask for Albert Torres, Program Director altorres@tact-online.com.
These services are free and available to the public
Community Outreach
Outreach workers by definition get out to various locations, but they must go to the places where target populations can be reached and must use the techniques that work best with specific groups. Outreach venues include bars, barbershops, teen centers, parks, and other public locations. Outreach workers learn about community gathering spots and go to these venues to find those likely at highest risk for HIV infection. However, the outreach work that is done in these locations tends to be focused on re-linking people to education, prevention and care, or helping support sporadic users, more so than identifying new clients who are not engaged at all.
Group Level Education
The Education Department routinely provides group level education on HIV/STDs to the general public and is available to provide technical assistance to individuals and groups regarding HIV prevention.
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