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FAQ's

The only way to prevent or treat HIV/AIDS properly is to have proper information. Matthew 25 AIDS Services has the goal of making sure that they spread as much knowledge as possible. Please see the answers to common questions below. If you have a question not listed, please contact us for assistance.

  • HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.
  • HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
  • If someone has the HIV virus in his/her body, then that person has HIV.  It does not mean that the person has AIDS.
  • The HIV virus attacks the person’s immune system.
  • Everyone reacts differently to this virus.  Some people may have no symptoms for a long time, and some people may have many serious symptoms.
  • Seeing your healthcare provider on a regular basis is very important in controlling this disease.  The healthcare provider can monitor your disease by checking your CD4 count and viral load on a regular basis.
  • Blood consists of two kinds of cells; one kind is red blood cells, and the other kind is white blood cells.
  • White blood cells are part of the immune system.  One kind of white blood cells is the T-Lymphocyte.
  • Some T-Lymphocytes contain a marker called the CD4 marker.  These cells are the ones that the HIV virus attacks.
  • When the healthcare professional draws blood to check your CD4 count, he/she is looking to see how many of the T-Lymphocytes you have in your blood that have not been attacked by the HIV virus.  This helps to show if your medicine is doing its job, or if it is time to start medication.
  • Individuals with a CD4 count of less than 200 that are exhibiting symptoms of the disease are considered to have developed AIDS.
  • Blood consists of two kinds of cells; one kind is red blood cells, and the other kind is white blood cells.
  • White blood cells are part of the immune system.  One kind of white blood cells is the T-Lymphocyte.
  • Some T-Lymphocytes contain a marker called the CD4 marker.  These cells are the ones that the HIV virus attacks.
  • When the healthcare professional draws blood to check your CD4 count, he/she is looking to see how many of the T-Lymphocytes you have in your blood that have not been attacked by the HIV virus.  This helps to show if your medicine is doing its job, or if it is time to start medication.
  • Individuals with a CD4 count of less than 200 that are exhibiting symptoms of the disease are considered to have developed AIDS.
  • Treating HIV is not just about treating your physical health.  Treating this disease means treating your mind, body, and spirit.  We want to help you to be the healthiest person you can be, but we can only do this with your help.

How You Can Help

Matthew 25 is a non-profit organization and relies on government funding and the generosity of the community at large to continue to provide the services we do. If you do not have the ability to donate monetarily, contact us to see how you can donate time as a volunteer!
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