FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Okaloosa AIDS Support & Informational Services has been around since 1991.  OASIS originated from the  reality that in the early 1990s, there was little support for the HIV/AIDS positive community in this area of the United States. Additionally, a lack of education about HIV/AIDS was evident.  One visionary, David Neil, devoted the last year of his life to seeing that such shortcomings were lessened.  David, lived to see his vision become reality--dying shortly after the establishment of OASIS.  To learn more about David, please visit the OUR FOUNDER page.
   

WHAT SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT OASIS?

1. Here at OASIS, our goal is dual in nature.   The first aspect is to provide for our consumers/clients by offering the following services:
   

2. •Consumer Empowerment
   

3. •Case Management
   

4. •Food Pantry
   

5. •Hot Lunch Program
   

6. •Assistance with Medications
   

7. •Assistance with Health Insurance Premiums
   

8. •Transportation Assistance
   

9. •Housing Assistance
   

10. •Utility Assistance
    

11. •Medical Referrals and Assistance
    

12. •Dental Referrals and Assistance
    

13. •Mental Health Referrals and Assistance
    

14. •HIV Education (Safer Sex Practices, Nutritional Education, Environmental Safety Education, etc.)
    

15. •Other services relevant to the HIV/AIDS positive individual
    

1. The second aspect is to extend certain services to the community-at-large by way of offering:
   

2. •Free HIV testing
   

3. •Library of Educational Resources
   

4. •Educational Presentations
   

5. •Video Library
   

6. •Quarterly Newsletters
   

7. •HIV/AIDS Certification Classes
   

8. To learn more about these and other services, simply view the SERVICES page.
   

DOES ONE HAVE TO BE HIV POSITIVE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM OASIS?

1. In order to take advantage of the consumer/client entitled services offered at OASIS, such as Utility Assistance or Medical/Dental Referral, one must provide proof of HIV positivity and be a client/consumer of OASIS.  Education and Prevention services are available to everyone, regardless of client/consumer status or HIV positivity.
   

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANONYMOUS & CONFIDENTIAL HIV TESTING?

1. At OASIS we offer two ways to test for HIV antibodies: Anonymous HIV Testing and Confidential HIV Testing.  The difference between the two is as such:
   

2. •The results from Anonymous HIV Testing are not reported to any health organization or HIV service organization, and you do not supply your name or Social Security Number upon testing.
   

3. •With Confidential HIV Testing, you do give your name and Social Security Number.  Your results are then reported to the State Department of Health.  The main goal of Confidential Testing and HIV/AIDS reporting is to assist those who test positive.  Reporting provides opportunity to make sure that every person whom tests positive is given the chance to be linked to services (like OASIS) and resources that otherwise would not be available to those who test anonymously.
   

I WISH TO RECEIVE AN HIV TEST AT OASIS.   HOW LONG BEFORE I KNOW MY RESULTS?

1. At OASIS, we offer two ways to test for HIV antibodies: OraSure® and OraQuick®.  Both antibody tests check for HIV-1 and HIV-2.
   

2. •Testing done with OraSure®: This HIV test identifies HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies by using an oral fluid specimen (oral mucosal transudate collected using an OraSure® collection device), thus eliminating the need for venipuncture (blood). After specimen collection, the oral fluid collection device is placed into a vial containing a preservative and is sent to Florida State Laboratory in Jacksonville where an EIA is performed. If reactive, confirmatory testing is performed. The results, reported as positive, negative, or indeterminate, are then sent from the Florida State Laboratory in Jacksonville back to OASIS. As with “conventional” HIV testing, the “window period” applies to OraSure® testing too. Test results are typically available in 14 days.  With OraSure®, you may test confidentially or anonymously. (See question above for an explanation of difference between confidential and anonymous testing.)
   

3. •Testing done with OraQuick®: The OraQuick® Rapid Antibody Test also checks for HIV-1 and HIV-2.  To perform the test, the person being tested for HIV gently swabs completely around the outer gums, both upper and lower, one time around. The tester then takes the device and inserts it into a vial containing a developer solution. In as little as 20 minutes, the test device will indicate if HIV antibodies are present in the solution by displaying two reddish-purple lines in a small window in the device. In the clinical studies by the manufacturer, the OraQuick oral fluid test correctly identified 99.3% of people who were infected with HIV (sensitivity) and 99.9% of people who were not infected with HIV (specificity).  With OraQuick®, you may only test confidentially. (See question above for an explanation of difference between confidential and anonymous testing.) If your OraQuick® test is reactive you will need to do an OraSure® oral swab.  The OraQuick® test is considered to be a screening test and needs to be confirmed by the Florida State Laboratory in Jacksonville.
   

CAN OASIS GIVE A PRESENTATION AT MY CIVIC ORGANIZATION OR EVENT?

1. Simply put . . . yes.  If you would like to have a staff member or volunteer from OASIS conduct a presentation for your school or civic organization, simply contact us by one of the avenues listed in the  footer of this page.