VCT: Voluntary Counselling and Testing
VCT stands for Voluntary Counselling and Testing. It is a process that is followed when a person wants to find out if they are infected with HIV.
Voluntary means that a person decides on their own whether or not to have the test. A person will have the chance to discuss the test with a trained counsellor. The test is an accurate scientific test to show if a person has been infected with HIV. The test is usually conducted on a person’s blood. Most clinics use a rapid test, which means that the test results are available after about twenty minutes.
There are three main steps in VCT:
- Pre-test counselling where questions about HIV and AIDS and the test are discussed with the counsellor
- When a person decides to have an HIV test, they need to sign a consent form
- After the test, the counsellor gives the results in a post-test counselling session
The HIV Test
What the test cannot identify:
- The test cannot tell when a person was infected.
- The HIV test cannot tell how the person was infected, or who the infection was from.
- The HIV test cannot tell whether a person has AIDS or not. Another test will have to be done to test whether the person has AIDS.
A counsellor can provide ongoing support and also refer a HIV positive person to other people or organisations where they can get further help.
The counsellors on the National AIDS Helpline will be able to refer you to VCT sites. You can also visit the Karabo Referral Web site on www.karabo.org.za for an updated list of VCT sites.
HIV Pre- and Post-Test Counselling
Pre-test counselling
Why is pre-test counselling important?
HIV infection can lead to AIDS and often comes with emotional, psychological and social challenges. Infected individuals, their partners, family members and close friends often also need support during this time.
The purpose of pre-test counselling is to provide individuals, who are considering being tested, with information on how testing is done and the possible personal, medical, social, psychological, legal and ethical implications of being diagnosed as either HIV-positive or -negative.
Pre-test counselling includes:
- Identifying the person’s reasons for testing
- Assessing the possible risk of HIV infection
- Exploring and correcting beliefs and knowledge about HIV infection and safer sex
- Providing information on how the test is done
- Dealing with the anticipation of the test results
- Guaranteeing confidentiality of the test results
- Obtaining informed consent
- Providing education on the giving of results and ongoing support
- Educating on the waiting period for results
Pre-test counselling is extremely important. It should not be seen as a preparation for the HIV test, but as an opportunity to educate people about HIV and AIDS and safer sex.
Post-Test Counselling
Post-test counselling is linked to pre-test counselling. In pre-test counselling, the client is given a glimpse of what to expect in post-test counselling. In post-test counselling, clients need to deal with the reality of their situation, and have a clear understanding of what their results mean and the options that are available to them.
Post-test counselling involves:
- Listening to the client’s concerns about his/her results
- Focusing on the person’s feelings and how the result may affect their lives
- Helping clients make a plan for action for the future