Transmitting HIV:
“I didn’t think I could be the one!”
A middle school class in Michigan recently discovered in a science experiment how easy it is to spread “it” without being aware that one is doing so. The experiment showed that student Mike Barnes had spread “it” to 64% of his classmates. Fortunately, “it” in this case was a liquid in a test tube representing HIV-infected bodily fluids. His reaction: “I was, like, surprised. Out of 52 tubes, I didn’t think I could be the one.”
Thinking they were studying serial dilution, a common science project, 52 students were each given a tube filled with clear liquid. All got water except for one, who got sodium hydroxide. The students then exchanged two drops of their liquid with nine other students’ liquids, recording with whom they exchanged. Then the teacher acknowledged that the lesson wasn’t really about serial dilution, but about the unknowing HIV transmission that happens when people engage in risky behavior.
Another chemical added to each tube made the liquid in the “infected” tubes turn pink: 33 of Mike’s 51 classmates had contracted the “virus.” An analysis of the recorded partners showed that Mike was the root source, or index patient.
An estimated one-third of HIV-infected people in the United States (perhaps 300,000 people) have HIV but do not know it, because they have not been tested. If someone doesn’t know he/she is infected, HIV transmission is likely to occur, because that person will probably not take precautions to avoid spreading the virus to others. The importance of learning one’s HIV status doesn’t stop with this Thursday’s National HIV Testing Day. To anyone who has engaged in risky sex or needle use: Get tested! If you have friends whose behavior puts them at risk, help them understand the importance of the test. Testing is a critical step both to getting care and to changing behavior. Getting into care, preferably early, is key to survival. Changing behavior is key to stopping the HIV epidemic. Arrange for a free HIV test by calling 972-5580. As Nike says, Just Do It! Today!
This article appears in June 28 • 2002.