• HIV/AIDS

    Learn about HIV/AIDS.

    HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an infection that spreads when you come into direct contact with certain body fluids from a person who has HIV with a detectable viral load. These fluids are:

    • Blood.
    • Semen and pre-seminal fluid.
    • Rectal fluid.
    • Vaginal fluid.
    • Breast milk.

    For transmission to occur, the HIV in these fluids must get into the bloodstream of an HIV-negative person through:

    • Mucous membrane in the rectum, vagina, mouth, or tip of the penis.
    • Open cut or sore.
    • Direct injection.

    HIV case management in Pierce County

    AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
    3009 S. 40th St. 
    Tacoma, WA 98409
    (253) 238-1677

    Community Health Care Hilltop
    Regional Health Care Center
    1202 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
    Tacoma, WA 98405
    (253) 442-8658
    (253) 442-8754
    (253) 442-8663

    HIV destroys white blood cells, which are key to the immune system or your body’s natural ability to fight disease. If left untreated, HIV develops into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), a stage of the illness in which you have a very weak immune system that makes you more susceptible to life compromising illnesses.

    There is no cure for HIV. However, HIV treatment does a good job of suppressing the virus, slowing or stopping disease progression. If you take medication as prescribed, you can achieve an undetectable viral load, which means you can’t transmit HIV sexually.

    People who are disproportionately impacted by HIV:

    • Men who have sex with men.
    • Trans women who have sex with men.
    • People who inject drugs.
    • People who exchange sex for drugs or money.
    • People disproportionately exposed to racism, particularly those who are foreign-born Black, Black/African American, and Latinx. 

    Want more info?

    Know your status—get tested for HIV.

    When?

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 13–64 years old get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.
    • If you’re at increased risk, get tested every 3–6 months. 

    How?

    • Talk to your healthcare provider.
    • Most providers charge a fee for testing. Health insurance may cover the costs. If you do not have insurance, ask about fees first.
    • If you’re under 18, ask if an explanation of benefits detailing your HIV testing will be sent home to your parents. 
    • If you have trouble finding testing or treatment, call us at (253) 649-1418 for help. 

    Where?

    You can get tested at your provider’s office—or you can visit a community testing site:

    Connect to HIV Care.

    Community Health Care’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program offers multidisciplinary primary and specialty HIV care to patients in their Hilltop Regional Health Center in downtown Tacoma.

    AIDS Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Center provides primary care services from HIV specialists.

    Prevent HIV transmission.

    More resources

    PrEP

    PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) may be appropriate if you have:

    • A sexual relationship with someone who is HIV positive.
    • Not consistently used condoms during sex.
    • Been diagnosed with an STI in the past 6 months,
    • An injection partner who is HIV positive.
    • Shared needles, syringes, or other equipment to inject drugs.

    PrEP is available at a variety of locations:

    PrEP resources

    For providers

    Harm reduction referral sources

    LGBTQI community

    Youth