What other tests do I need?
After you are tested HIV-positive your doctor will need to run other tests. The two tests that tell you most about your general health are your CD4 count and your viral load. CD4 and viral load: two...
View ArticleThinking of joining a study
Sometimes as a patient you may be asked to consider joining a research study. Or you may already be interested in whether you can help as part of research. Ongoing medical research is essential to...
View ArticleResearch and clinical studies
Research is essential if we are to understand more about HIV. We need research to get better and safer treatments, a vaccine and a cure. Research into HIV has vastly expanded our knowledge on other...
View ArticleHistory and timeline
As an advocate it is important to know your history both in your own country and globally. History can put local issues in context. If you know what went before you can have confidence that the future...
View ArticleIf you have just found out you are HIV-positive…
If you have just been diagnosed this can be a scary time. Stop, take time to breathe, it is going to be ok… An HIV diagnosis may be completely unexpected. Or may have been something you were worrying...
View ArticleTreatment guidelines
Many national and international organisations produce guidelines for the clinical management and treatment of HIV and related complications. Most guidelines outline best practice and minimum standards...
View ArticleDrug interactions
Drug interactions between antiretroviral drugs and other medications are complicated. This is a specialist area, often with limited research. The following sites include drug-interaction resources....
View ArticleOnline calculators
Access to a range of online health calculators is now an essential part of routine patient care. The following resources are all available online using the links provided. British National Formulary...
View ArticleFind or change clinic in the UK
Choosing a clinic Choosing a clinic usually depends on where you live, but it you are treated in the UK, you have a choice for where you go for your HIV care. If you live in London or another large …
View ArticleProfessional links
British HIV Association (BHIVA) British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) European Medicines Agency (EMA) EMEA...
View ArticleDrug resistance
UK treatment guidelines (BHIVA) include recommendations to test for antiretroviral drug resistance on diagnosis and prior to starting or changing treatment. Viral load needs to be >500 copies/mL in...
View ArticleSupport groups
You are not alone… Thousands of people each day are going through similar experiences. How to connect may not always be easy, but it should be possible. HIV is difficult to manage on your own, so you...
View ArticleOnline journals
The following peer-reviewed journals regularly include HIV-related research. Many offer free online access to selected current content and free access to all content after two years. AIDS British...
View ArticleClinical trials
i-Base is a community project that bases the resources and information we produce on the results from clinical research – which can range from isolated case reports to large randomised studies. We also...
View ArticleWho can I talk to?
Confidentiality After you are diagnosed, the only people who know your status will be you, your doctor and other health care workers involved in your care. Healthcare workers can not tell anyone about...
View ArticleHIV and drug resistance: online training course
This online course is an learning resource for treatment advocates who want to learn about HIV and drug resistance. Each module should take 30–60 minutes. It was first published in February 2011 and...
View ArticleOnline resources
Knowing where to find information is essential. Many of these resources are the same as those for health professionals. i-Base resistance course Treatment guidelines Online calculators Drug...
View ArticleWorkshops
i-Base run workshops and courses on any aspect of HIV treatment. We have worked with over 50 support groups in the UK and also run workshops with HIV organisations in South Africa, India, Taiwan,...
View ArticleSlide sets
The following slide sets were produced for i-Base community workshops. When third-party slides are used these remain the copyright of the original author. IAS July 2012 – Washington IAS 2012 feedback...
View ArticleSTART study
Updated: 14 February 2013 START (Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment) START is a large, international, randomised study looking at the risks and benefits of earlier treatment. This study is...
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