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Old 9th Jan 2004, 02:59
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gayflyboy

JAA, FAA & Canada ATPL A+H, IP etc
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
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It can take up to 6 months for HIV antibodies to show up in a blood test, thus rushing off to your local medical professional, or to the local store to buy a home test kit, will not give you any useful information - unless you have exposed yourslef previously and have lareday sero-converted.

Assuming you travel often, I would suggest that when you are in the UK, US, or some other European country, you make a visit to one of the local STD Clinics for a test. These clinics are often found at hospitals.

You can usually take these tests anonymously, if only by dint of giving a false name, but you should also find some source of councelling to deal with the possibility of a positive result.

Aviation medical bodies have a varying views on pilots who are HIV positive, and so do many countries - many of whom will deny entry to those known to be HIV+. This included the US until recently, although I believe that this may have changed now.

I wish you the best of luck in the process.
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