Glossary

Abstinence: Not having sexual intercourse, whether oral, anal, or vaginal; being celibate.

AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is the later stage of the HIV virus infection. HIV progressively destroys the body’s ability to fight infections and certain cancers.

Anal Sex: Inserting the penis into the anus of the sexual partner.

Anonymous testing: Testing done with no identifying information recorded; only the person tested can obtain the results.

Antibody: a substance in the blood formed to combat invading disease agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Antibody-negative test result: A test result in which no signs of antibodies to HIV are detected; either the person does not have HIV, or the person has recently become infected with HIV but does not have detectable antibodies.

Antibody-positive test result: A test result in which antibodies to HIV are detected in the blood; the person is assumed to be infected with HIV if both the ELISA and Western blot tests show positive results.

Bisexual: A person who is sexually attracted to people of the same sex and of the opposite sex (both-sex orientation).

Body fluids: Fluids that the body makes such as tears, saliva, sweat, blood, vaginal fluid, semen, and breast milk.

Casual contact: Ordinary social contact; for example kissing on the cheek, shaking hands, using a telephone toilet or swimming pool.  Not a means of spreading HIV.

Casual transmission: Transmitting (spreading) an infection or disease through casual contact.  Not a mean of transmitting HIV.

CDC: Center for Disease Control

Condom: A sheath made of latex, polyurethane, or lamb intestine that fits over the erect penis; when used, these condoms can provide protection against HIV transmission.

Confidential testing: testing in which test results are linked to persons and recorded in medical files.  State laws limit who can have access to the results and under what conditions they gain access.

Ejaculate: To eject semen from the penis during orgasm.

ELISA: A laboratory test of the blood commonly used to detect antibodies to HIV.  ELISA is short for enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay.

Epidemic: a rapidly spreading illness or disease in a population.

Exposure to HIV: The condition of exchanging body fluids with someone infected with HIV; raised the possibility of HIV Transmission.

Heterosexual: Being romantically or sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex.  Also having a sexual partner of the other sex.

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, this is the virus that causes AIDS.

HIV Positive: The results of a positive HIV test indicates that you have been exposed to the virus and could be infected.

Homosexual: Being romantically or sexually attracted to people of the same sex.  Also, having partners of one’ own sex.

Incubation: the period of time from the point of infection to the onset of symptoms.

Incidence: The number of new cases of disease over a period of time.

Infection: Invasion of the body by a disease agent.

Lesbian: A woman whose sexual partners are women.

Lubricant: A substance used to reduce friction during sex.


Oral sex: contact of the mouth or tongue with a partner’s penis, vagina, or anus.
Penis: The male sexual organ.

Positive test result: Findings that show the presence of antibodies; the person tested is assumed to be infected with HIV and able to infect others.

Risk Behavior: An activity that puts a person at increased risk of contracting HIV.

Safer sex: Sexual practices that involve no exchange of blood, semen, or vaginal fluid.

Semen: Whitish fluid ejaculated from the penis during orgasm that contains sperm, white blood cells, and fluid.

Sex (sexual intercourse): Genital contact between individuals; contact with vagina, penis or anus.

Sexual orientation: The attraction people feel for or the erotic relationship they develop with others of their own sex, of the opposite sex, or both sexes.

Spermicide: A chemical usually in the form of a foam, cream, or jelly that kiss sperm on contact; for example, nonoxynol-9.

STDs: Sexually Transmitted Diseases. As the term implies, are diseases transmitted through sexual activities, exchange of bodily fluids or by direct contact with the infected area.

Syndrome: A group of related problems or symptoms.

T-Cell: A type of white blood cell essential to the body’s immune system; helps regulate the immune system and controls B-cell and macrophage functions.

Vaccine: A substance made from modified or weakened viruses that produces or increases immunity to and protection against a particular disease.

Vagina: The passageway in a female extending from the vulva to the cervix; is penetrated during vaginal sex.

Vagina Fluid: Fluid that provides moistness and lubrication in the vagina; vaginal fluid may contain HIV in an HIV-infected woman.

Vaginal sex (also vaginal intercourse): Penetration of the vagina by the penis or a sex toy.

Virus: A disease agent that must live within cells of the body to survive, often destroying these cells.

Western blot test: A laboratory test used to detect HIV antibodies.  Often used to confirm a positive ELISA-screen blood test.