Professionally trained staff combines community outreach efforts with two established clinic locations to provide services to individuals in Snohomish County. We work closely with other departments and organizations such as the Snohomish County Clean Needle Exchange to provide a well-rounded approach to individual sexual health and disease prevention. Additionally we partner with other community organizations for annual events such as National HIV Testing Day, World AIDS Day, health fairs and other educational events. If you are interested in having a staff member from the HIV Prevention Program come to your organization, please contact our office.

For people who are at risk of acquiring HIV, the program offers confidential and anonymous HIV testing, free condoms and sexual lubricants, programs to discuss lowering risk, and direct referrals to additional services.

Individuals who are HIV positive can also receive free condoms and sexual lubricants, free HIV testing for their sex and/or drug sharing partner(s), participation in workshops and individual coaching, and direct referrals to HIV/AIDS Case Management.

The immune system gives our bodies the ability to fight infections. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS is the final stage of HIV infection. It can take years for a person infected with HIV, even without treatment, to reach this stage. Having AIDS means that the virus has weakened the immune system to the point at which the body has a difficult time fighting infection. When someone has one or more specific infections, certain cancers, or a very low number of T cells, he or she is considered to have AIDS.

HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person.

HIV can enter the body through a vein (e.g., injection drug use), the lining of the anus or rectum, the lining of the vagina and/or cervix, the opening to the penis, the mouth, other mucous membranes (e.g., eyes or inside of the nose), or cuts and sores. Intact, healthy skin is an excellent barrier against HIV and other viruses and bacteria.

HIV also can be transmitted through receipt of infected blood or blood clotting factors. However, since 1985, all donated blood in the United States has been tested for HIV. Therefore, the risk of infection through transfusion of blood or blood products is extremely low. The U.S. blood supply is considered to be among the safest in the world.

As a result, the virus is not transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging, or a casual kiss. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, doorknob, dishes, drinking glasses, food, or pets. You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes or from donating blood.

All of our testing services are confidential, but SHD also offers anonymous HIV testing which means a person can provide a false name when taking the test. No proof of residence or nationality is required to receive a test. For all tests an accurate date of birth and zip code are requested, however. Please call 425.339.5298 to schedule an appointment for either Everett or Lynnwood. Standard testing is accomplished by obtaining a small blood sample. Test results for standard HIV testing are available in 7-10 business days.

HIV Testing and Service Locations and Fees

Program staff can also provide printed instructions or a demonstration of the correct way to use condoms.

Male condoms, when used consistently and correctly, can be highly effective in reducing the risk of transmission of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The following information regarding the effectiveness of latex condoms is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/od/condoms.pdf

In addition, correct and consistent use of latex condoms can reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including discharge and genital ulcer disease…

Laboratory studies have demonstrated that latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of STD pathogens.

Condoms can be expected to provide different levels of protection for various STDs, depending on difference in how the diseases are transmitted. Because condoms block the discharge of semen or protect the male urethra against exposure to vaginal secretions, a greater level of protection is provided for the discharge disease. A lesser degree of protection is provided for the genital ulcer disease of HPV because these infections may be transmitted by exposure to areas, e.g., infected skin or mucosal surfaces, that are not covered or protected by the condom.

Snohomish Health District also offers male, non-latex condoms for people who have latex allergies.

The female condom – or Reality condom – is a reversible barrier that can be used instead of a male condom. It is worn by the receptive partner (man or woman) when engaging in penile/vaginal or penile/anal intercourse. It is a pre-lubricated pouch, made from plastic polyurethane that is thin, soft, odorless, and stronger than latex. During penile/vaginal intercourse, women place the condom inside of her vagina, and by lining the vagina, it acts as a barrier to sperm and many sexually transmitted diseases. During penile/anal intercourse, the receptive partner (or the “bottom”) would place the condom inside his/her rectum. The Reality condom has flexible rings at each end. The ring at the closed end holds the pouch in the vagina, but should be removed before anal intercourse. The ring at the open end lies outside the vagina or rectum. For more information go to How to Use a Female Condom.

Latex and non-latex oral sex barriers (dental dams) are thin sheets designed to act as a barrier while performing oral/vaginal sex (cunnilingus) or oral/anal sex (rimming). During oral sex, the dental dam lays flat covering the entire vaginal opening and clitoris, or the anus. When properly used, they may help reduce the risk of catching or spreading many STDs such as Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia infections, Genital Herpes, Hepatitis A&B, and HIV.

Water-based or silicon-based lubricants can also be used to help reduce the risk of transmitting HIV. Although there are no virus killing properties in effective lubricants, using lube can reduce the chance of a person’s body ripping or tearing due to intercourse. If a rip or tear occurs in a person’s body during intercourse, it creates an opening through which an infected bodily fluid could enter the body. This increases the chance of HIV transmission.

Only water-based or silicon-based lubricants should be used with latex condoms. Oil-based lubricants such as lotions, cooking oils or massage oils can actually break down the latex material and increase the likelihood of condom breakage.

The HIV Program staff can assist you and/or inform your partner(s) for you. When a staff member informs your partner(s) that they have been exposed to HIV, your name will never be mentioned.

Private and public hospitals, laboratories, physicians and other health related care providers, as required by law, report positive STDs such as Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV to Snohomish Health District on a daily basis.

Health care providers in Washington State are required to report HIV infection, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (including AIDS in persons previously reported with HIV infection), and other STDs to local health authorities within 3 working days (in accordance with WAC 246-101).

If you would like a complete list of reportable infections, please go to http://www.doh.wa.gov/notify/list.htm.