If a teen boy is sexually active and thinks he may have been exposed to HIV, what is the most effective way of handling the situation?

Answer:

He should be tested for the virus. However, a test is not effective until six weeks or more after exposure. If he knows when he may have been exposed, he should get tested six weeks after the exposure date. If he is not sure when he was exposed, he should be tested right away to ensure the earliest treatment if infected. Since he doesn't know when he might have been exposed, the first test may not be reliable because the body may not yet be making antibodies against HIV. If the results are negative on the first test, it is best to get a second test after some time has passed in order to be completely sure that he has not been infected. He should abstain from any kind of sexual contact until it has been established that he is 100% HIV-free.