Am I HIV Infected?

Unfortunately, HIV is not as easily diagnosed as you would think. Understandably, people who think they may have been infected are afraid; they are afraid to see a doctor and they are afraid to get tested. These simple steps will help you find out if you have indeed been infected.

Related Information

• What Are the Symptoms of HIV?

• How is HIV Treated?

• I am Infected - How Do I Move On?

New Protease Compound Could Lead To Better HIV Drugs

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new compound that could mean a better Protease Inhibitor. Currently available protease inhibitors work by binding to the center of protease molecules, "freezing" them closed like a door, making it impossible for the protease stage of the HIV life cycle to continue, thus halting HIV replication. The new protease inhibitor compound halts the protease stage as well but by "freezing" the protease molecules open, like a a door jam, again making it impossible for the protease stage to continue. The benefit of this new compound is that the molecules are much smaller than traditional protease inhibitors meaning the med could be taken less often and could be absorbed by the body better. Studies of this compound are in a very early stage and will not yield a new drug for years.