CMN 577 HIV EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY
PASSED
What is important to know about stage 3 HIV? - Answer-Most severe phase- People are
diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm or if they
develop certain opportunistic illnesses
What is one of the most common mental health conditions that people with HIV face? -
Answer-Depression
How often should the NP check an HIV+ patient's CD4 count? - Answer-Every 3-6
months
How often should the NP check an HIV+ patient's viral load? - Answer-Every 3-6
months, before they are started on a new HIV medicine, and 2-8 weeks after starting or
changing medicines
How many drugs are typically included in ART therapy? - Answer-A combination of 3 or
more drugs will have the greatest chance of lowering the amount of HIV in your body
What are some common SE's of ART therapy? - Answer-N/V/D, difficulty sleeping, dry
mouth, HA, rash, dizziness, fatigue, and pain
When is candidiasis considered an opportunistic infection? - Answer-When it infects the
esophagus or lower respiratory tract or deeper lung tissue
What is Kaposi Sarcoma? - Answer-An OI/cancer that causes capillaries to grow
abnormally- can be life threatening when it affects organs inside the body, such as the
lung, lymph nodes.
Who is at high risk for HIV? - Answer-MSM, injection drug users, having sex with an
infected partner, healthcare workers, first responders, being born to HIV (+) mother,
blood transfusions, eating pre-chewed foods from someone w/ HIV, oral sex, open
mouth kissing with HIV infected individuals, etc...
When do symptoms of fever and fatigue present in the newly infected HIV patient? -
Answer-2-3 weeks after exposure
, The patient with acute retroviral syndrome is the one that is also - Answer-Highly
contagious
The patient with acute retroviral syndrome presents with SXS, like? - Answer-Fever,
fatigue, erythematous rash on the face, trunk, palms of hand/soles of feet, HA,
generalized lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, myalgia/arthralgia, N/V/D,
hepatosplenomegaly, night sweats, apthous ulcers or thrush, genital ulcers, malaise,
anorexia, weight loss, or wasting. Neuro SXS include psychosis, Guillian Barre, aseptic
meningitis, facial palsy, peripheral neuropathy, brachial neuritis, cognitive impairment
How often should a person at high risk for contracting HIV be screened? - Answer-
Annually
How often should a typical patient be screened for HIV? - Answer-At least once and
after possible exposure
What is considered first line for HIV testing? - Answer-A combined HIV1/HIV2 antibody
and p24 antigen Immunoassay (fourth generation test)
What tests are included in HIV rapid screening tests? - Answer-Uni-Gold Recombigen,
Almere Determine, and OraQuick
A patient gets tested for HIV via the Uni-Gold Recombigen test. What should they
expect? - Answer-They are only being tested for HIV1 antibodies and will need a
confirmatory test with a rapid immune-concentrating assay, such as the Biorad Multi-
spot
What test has replaced, in HIV testing, the Western blot for confirmatory diagnosis? -
Answer-Biorad Multi-spot
In HIV testing, if the Biorad multi-spot is indeterminate, what test should be done? -
Answer-A nucleic acid amplification assay is performed to confirm the diagnosis
What is the Determine Combo (in HIV testing)? - Answer-Alert Determine HIV1/2 Ag/Ab
combo (AKA Determine Combo) will test for HIV1 and HIV2 antibodies
Once a patient tests positive for HIV, before any treatment is initiated, what baseline
labs should be drawn? - Answer-HIV1, HIV2 testing, serum glucose, creatinine, lipid
profile, and UA. A tuberculin skin test or CXR to r/o presence of TB/infection, as well as
clearing the patient of any STI's including hepatitis
Who should be offered ART therapy? - Answer-Any HIV positive patients, regardless of
their CD4 cell count (in order to treat and prevent HIV related disease as well as to
reduce the risk of transmitting HIV)
Before a treatment option can be chosen, what must take place? - Answer-HIV staging
CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY
PASSED
What is important to know about stage 3 HIV? - Answer-Most severe phase- People are
diagnosed with AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells/mm or if they
develop certain opportunistic illnesses
What is one of the most common mental health conditions that people with HIV face? -
Answer-Depression
How often should the NP check an HIV+ patient's CD4 count? - Answer-Every 3-6
months
How often should the NP check an HIV+ patient's viral load? - Answer-Every 3-6
months, before they are started on a new HIV medicine, and 2-8 weeks after starting or
changing medicines
How many drugs are typically included in ART therapy? - Answer-A combination of 3 or
more drugs will have the greatest chance of lowering the amount of HIV in your body
What are some common SE's of ART therapy? - Answer-N/V/D, difficulty sleeping, dry
mouth, HA, rash, dizziness, fatigue, and pain
When is candidiasis considered an opportunistic infection? - Answer-When it infects the
esophagus or lower respiratory tract or deeper lung tissue
What is Kaposi Sarcoma? - Answer-An OI/cancer that causes capillaries to grow
abnormally- can be life threatening when it affects organs inside the body, such as the
lung, lymph nodes.
Who is at high risk for HIV? - Answer-MSM, injection drug users, having sex with an
infected partner, healthcare workers, first responders, being born to HIV (+) mother,
blood transfusions, eating pre-chewed foods from someone w/ HIV, oral sex, open
mouth kissing with HIV infected individuals, etc...
When do symptoms of fever and fatigue present in the newly infected HIV patient? -
Answer-2-3 weeks after exposure
, The patient with acute retroviral syndrome is the one that is also - Answer-Highly
contagious
The patient with acute retroviral syndrome presents with SXS, like? - Answer-Fever,
fatigue, erythematous rash on the face, trunk, palms of hand/soles of feet, HA,
generalized lymphadenopathy, pharyngitis, myalgia/arthralgia, N/V/D,
hepatosplenomegaly, night sweats, apthous ulcers or thrush, genital ulcers, malaise,
anorexia, weight loss, or wasting. Neuro SXS include psychosis, Guillian Barre, aseptic
meningitis, facial palsy, peripheral neuropathy, brachial neuritis, cognitive impairment
How often should a person at high risk for contracting HIV be screened? - Answer-
Annually
How often should a typical patient be screened for HIV? - Answer-At least once and
after possible exposure
What is considered first line for HIV testing? - Answer-A combined HIV1/HIV2 antibody
and p24 antigen Immunoassay (fourth generation test)
What tests are included in HIV rapid screening tests? - Answer-Uni-Gold Recombigen,
Almere Determine, and OraQuick
A patient gets tested for HIV via the Uni-Gold Recombigen test. What should they
expect? - Answer-They are only being tested for HIV1 antibodies and will need a
confirmatory test with a rapid immune-concentrating assay, such as the Biorad Multi-
spot
What test has replaced, in HIV testing, the Western blot for confirmatory diagnosis? -
Answer-Biorad Multi-spot
In HIV testing, if the Biorad multi-spot is indeterminate, what test should be done? -
Answer-A nucleic acid amplification assay is performed to confirm the diagnosis
What is the Determine Combo (in HIV testing)? - Answer-Alert Determine HIV1/2 Ag/Ab
combo (AKA Determine Combo) will test for HIV1 and HIV2 antibodies
Once a patient tests positive for HIV, before any treatment is initiated, what baseline
labs should be drawn? - Answer-HIV1, HIV2 testing, serum glucose, creatinine, lipid
profile, and UA. A tuberculin skin test or CXR to r/o presence of TB/infection, as well as
clearing the patient of any STI's including hepatitis
Who should be offered ART therapy? - Answer-Any HIV positive patients, regardless of
their CD4 cell count (in order to treat and prevent HIV related disease as well as to
reduce the risk of transmitting HIV)
Before a treatment option can be chosen, what must take place? - Answer-HIV staging
