Source: Laboratorytechnician.org

The CGFNS Qualifying Exam^® for foreign-educated, first-level, general nurses will be Internet-based beginning with its March 2011 exam administration, CGFNS International announced today.

“The CGFNS Qualifying Exam^®, which has been given in paper-and-pencil format to over 500,000 foreign-educated nurses during the past 30 years, continues with the same testing rigor and remains a psychometrically sound and legally defensible examination. Moving to Internet-based testing expands our reach and strategic value to our global community,” said Dr. Barbara L. Nichols, CGFNS International CEO.

CGFNS has selected Kryterion as its test delivery vendor to administer the Internet-based examination. Applicants will continue to apply for the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^® through CGFNS International’s Certification Program, or through HHRDC in China or IIG in Vietnam for the CGFNS International Standards for Professional Nurses (ISPN) program.

The CGFNS Qualifying Exam^® satisfies the immigration exam requirement for first-level, general nurses seeking an occupational visa in the United States and is also recognized by a majority of the U.S. State Boards of Nursing. Applicants who are approved to take the Internet-based CGFNS Qualifying Exam^® in March 2011 will be notified in January with instructions for scheduling.

For more information regarding the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^®, please visit www.cgfns.org/sections/programs/cp/default.shtml.

About Kryterion
Kryterion is a full-service provider of custom assessment and certification products and services. They work with organizations to build and deliver everything from skills tests and simple online assessments to a comprehensive, high-stakes, worldwide certification program. They offer a viable addition to high-stakes test delivery with unsurpassed program security, control and convenience. Kryterion has 469 worldwide available testing locations. For more information, go to www.kryteriononline.com.

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Source: CGFNS News and Alerts

Whether by exam or through an endorsement, the requirements for obtaining a license to practice as a nurse differs in each U.S. state and may change without notice. Therefore, we suggest that you contact the board of nursing in the state where you wish to practice to verify their licensure requirements. You can go to each state board of nursing’s Web site by clicking on the state name in the table. This table contains information available as of August 2010.

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http://www.cgfns.org/sections/tools/apps/sbonrequirements.shtml

If you follow us on our Facebook Fan page, you may remember that we invited everyone to share a nursing experience that may inspire or even touch someone else’s life. If you have any story to share, feel free to send them at stories stories@nursesnotes.org. Meanwhile, here’s a wonderful message that was made out of true inspiration from Nurse Tina – our first sender from the Philippines.

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Dear Future Nurse,

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Good day! First of all, I like to express my warmest appreciation for spending your most valued time reading my letter. It must be pretty hard for you to joggle things up in your hectic schedule, especially now that you are on your way to start on all your Nurse Licensure Examination preparations. It has already been a year when I, with my greatest capacity, got ready for the much awaited NLE. I, too, was in the exact position as you are right now a year ago, filled with all the ambivalence I never imagined I would be experiencing—anxious yet excited, determined yet hesitant. Although the board exam will never be easy getting through with, passing it will always be a great accomplishment! Well, don’t fret. Chill… You can check out some of my B.O.A.R.D. E.X.A.M. tips that you might want to try.

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B-oard is BROAD
The Nurse Licensure Examination is not the typical exam that you have back in your college years. It’s more like taking an exam of all the things that you studied during the time of your BSN program. Unlike your usual departmentalized exams wherein the ranges of topics are most often predictable, the NLE may contain even the rarest ones that you are least expecting to come out. It would be helpful to take note of the topics that you haven’t encountered yet so that you wouldn’t end up leaving them out. Also, there is a thin line of difference between the topics that you know and that you are ‘familiar’ with for the latter requires a bit more of your mastery. Of course, even if you already have the list of the topics that you already ‘know’ about, it is still very beneficial to allot some time to read or master them once again.

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O-verconfidence
It’s unhealthy to be morbidly ashamed of one’s abilities. However, you shouldn’t be too confident that you can do everything. You have to recognize that you too have your own weaknesses and that you might need the assistance of other people. Don’t hesitate to raise your concerns. Consult some RNs you know, your previous professors (in case they are amenable with that) or your review instructors. They can provide you much enlightenment on those topics that you find vague or difficult.

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A-mplify!
Amplify everything in you—friends and family ties, faith in the Almighty, and your will power. Fortification of these can further help you endure all the challenges that you might encounter along the way.

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R-eadiness
Having been able to prepare your list of review topics and resource materials, you are on your way to proceed with your review per se. Attending classes in review centers are optional. However, if you really feel that you are more comfortable with that type of review strategy then go for it! Most importantly, you have to demonstrate preparedness to what I call your PIES—physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your present status. If you don’t feel like taking the NLE just yet; maybe because of an emotional upheaval or a physical condition of some sort, don’t be afraid to postpone it. You have to create balance within these four major factors of readiness in order for you to proceed in your NLE prep smooth and sound.

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D-art your target
One thing I learned in Philosophy is that “an action is always driven by a motive”. It might help to remember this equation: MOTIVE=TARGET and that TARGET=PASSING THE NLE. You have to set your goals for they will act as your ‘blueprints’ to your success. We all have our personal reasons in taking and PASSING the NLE. Whatever it is, if it keeps the drive in you, well then GO!

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E-limination
As our body takes away all the unnecessary entities in it for it to function more effectively, I think it would be reasonable enough to incorporate that ‘dogma’ within your review or NLE preparation period. ELIMINATE everything that might cause distraction.

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‘X’ notes are worth your glimpse!
The NLE is fast approaching and you want to stop reading or reviewing. Oops, not so fast. If you still have ample time, try to go over your old notes. You might want to welcome the possibility that, maybe, the topics in there might show up. Never lose a chance!

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A-ddress check!
It’s a week before your board exam. Do your own survey of your testing site in order to know your room number Search the easiest route, prominent landmarks and establishments around. That will surely help!

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M-ilk before you sleep.
If you have difficulty sleeping, try drinking a warm glass of milk before going to bed. Nothing beats having a complete eight (or make it ten) hours of sleep. Enjoy your slumber for the biggest day of your Nursing Life!

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I hope these pointers I mentioned will help you in a way or two in your venture towards your board exam. See you on your oath taking my future COLLEAGUE.

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Lovelots,

Nurse Tina c:

MANILA, Philippines – A nursing student from the Ateneo de Naga topped the Nursing Licensure Examination that was given last July, according to the Professional regulation Commission in a statement.

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Rayan Abogado Oliva got a rating of 86.80 percent, the PRC said.
Others in the Top 10 are:

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1. Rayan Abogado Oliva Ateneo de Naga 86.80%

2. Aileen Ancanan Austria De Los Santos-STI College, Inc.-(Delos Santos S.N.) 86.40%

3. Allyce Joana Toledo De Leon UST 86.00%
Anna Vanessa Ang Gan UST 86.00%

4. Alyssa Leonila Dela Silva Guiam CEU-Manila 85.80%

5. Charmaine Camacho Gauiran Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial School 85.60%
Vida Theresa Sibayan Gumangan Saint Louis University
Abigail Diaz Icasiano Arellano University-Manila
Weena Marie Bordeos Lim UST
John Joseph Mayo Montalbo FEU-Manila
Jan Michael Gabionza Ong Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela
Joan Dioquino Tejada Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Memorial School

6. Zyrus Ronn Samson Bernasor Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela 85.40%
Rouchel Anne Mañez Briones UP-Manila 85.40%

7. Peter James Bongolan Abad UP-Manila 85.20%
Merjorie May Malicay Adolfo Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College)
Clarence Joy Lozada Custodio Saint Joseph College-Cavite City
Nico Paulo Maniago Dimal Angeles University Foundation
Kris Ray Arcelo Dumaguin Velez College
Stela Joy Ramirez Engada West Visayas State University-La Paz
Jan Christian Gomez Feliciano UST
Jose Paolo Julian Galeon Tarlac State University (Tarlac College of Tech.)
Paulo Kristoffer Lumba Macasinag De La Salle University-Health Sciences Institute
Joy Ann Acierto Tan Notre Dame of Dadiangas College
Emer Joy Tapic Vale University of Bohol

8. Hana Kirstie San Miguel Abello UP-Manila 85.00%
Kea Tena Capio UST
Ana Francesca Caballero Centeno UST
Grace Cecile We Co UP-Manila
Michael Prince Notorio Del Rosario Lorma College
Rouella Christina Martin Fajardo UST
Joe Mari Abella Flores Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College)
Donna May Sison Fronda Saint Joseph College-Cavite City
Renan James Sace Lim UST
Romina Tan Manaloto Our Lady of Fatima University-QC
Marian Sheryl Flores Milo Saint Louis University
Maria Kriselda Perez Rosales Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas,Inc
Cristina Gan Satiada Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing&Liberal Arts
Laurence Lester Gamboa Tan UST
Elise Cara Kaw Teng Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC)
Marie Kathrina Torralba Tojong University of the Visayas-Mandaue City
Jaylyn Gabrillo Villafania Saint Louis University

9.Jamela Montoya Arcilla FEU-Manila 84.80%
Czarina Myrnelli Mamore Buenafe Northwestern University
Arcel Tiatco Cabigting Angeles University Foundation
Elaine Katrina Sigalat Cala UST
Julie Ann Del Rosario Clarin UST
Ancel Rivera De Guzman Holy Angel University
Eleanor Deloeg Dela Paz Saint Louis University
Ria Leah Oropesa Esporlas University of Perpetual Help System Dalta-Las Piñas
Elaine Medina Lapaan Saint Louis University
A Nico Nahar Idris Pajes Ateneo de Zamboanga
Ana Jeska Sana Peñaranda West Visayas State University-La Pas
Jan Roland Casinto Pomuceno Notre Dame of Dadiangas College
Angeline Villarey Rempillo Our Lady of Guadalupe Colleges
Nicael Dela Cruz Salazar Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig
Ferie Angelica Yvan Soriano Silvino FEU-Manila
Ivy Barrete Susvilla Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College)
Kara Deneice Santos Tueres Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela
Ace Brian Samaniego Verallo Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela

10. Abegael Panciles Bacol Manila Doctors College 84.60%
Ramon Carlo Arpon Baring CEU-Manila
Robert Iben Barit Medical College of Northern Philippines
Livia Dedoroy Barrieses Riverside College
Maria Virginia Cinco Cuayzon Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela
Kathleen Anne Palanca De Leon Chinese General Hospital College of Nursing&Liberal Arts
Mark Anthony Santos De Luna Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela
Edwin Suarez Del Rosario II UST
Eunice Pablico Empeño UST
Greg Ely Cambaya Flores Our Lady of Fatima University-QC
Marcius Antonius Balcita Gacayan Union Christian College
April Joy Diane Garing Galicia Wesleyan University-Philippines-Cabanatuan City
Mary Joy Sarrosa Garbanzos University of Saint La Salle
Angeli Palisoc Garcia Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC)
Sara Jane Jaide Labbay Ateneo De Zamboanga
Micca Flores Lagleva UST
Razel Mae Nacua Libot Cebu Normal University (Cebu State College)
Alexandra Basañez Macalintal Ateneo De Zamboanga
Kristine De La Cruz Macasero Cebu Normal University
(Cebu State College)
Celeste Imperial Madueño Manila Doctors College
Sallie Ria Delos Santos Malayan Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila
Jan Paula Espiritu Martinez Universidad De Manila (City Coll. of Manila)
Kimberly Chan Mendoza Saint Louis University
Marie Paz Lacanlalay Nolasco Medical College of Northern Philippines
Robelou Lizano Ong FEU-Manila
Jodellene Fernandez Perocho CEU-Manila
Clinton Rosita Rabadon Bicol University-Polangui
Erika Genina David Ronquillo Holy Angel University
Dioliza Montenegro Sacil Universidad De Santa Isabel (Col De Sta Isabel)
Katherine Mejia Viacrusis Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC)

MANILA, Philippines – Over 37,000 out of 91, 008 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination that was given last July, according to a release by the Professional Regulation Commission Friday.

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At least 37, 679 examinees passed the exams that were given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga, it said.

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The members of the Board of Nursing are Carmencita M. Abaquin, chairman; Leonila A. Faire, Betty F. Merritt, Perla G. Po, Marco Antonio C. Sto.Tomas (inhibited), Yolanda C. Arugay and Amelia B. Rosales (inhibited), members.

The results of examination for five examinees were withheld pending final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examination.

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Those who will register are required tobring: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 1 piece 1” x 1” picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2010-2013.

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Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

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The oathtaking ceremony of the new nurses, as well as those who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held before the Board on Monday and Tuesday, September 20 and 21, at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

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All must come in their white gala uniform, nurse’s cap, white duty shoes, without earrings, hair not touching the collar and without corsage.

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Oathtaking tickets for the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby regions will be available at the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) at 1663 F.T. Benitez Street, Malate, Manila, from September 1 – 20, on a “first come first serve” basis.

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All regional oathtaking schedules will be posted in the BON website: www.bonphilippines.org.

The NCSBN Board of Directors voted to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination at its meeting on Dec. 10, 2009

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Media Contact: Dawn M. Kappel
Director, Marketing and Communications
312.525.3667 direct
312.279.1034 fax
dkappel@ncsbn.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CHICAGO – The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) voted on Dec. 10, 2009, to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination (the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). The new passing standard is -0.16 logits on the NCLEX-RN logistic scale, 0.05 logits higher than the previous standard of -0.21. The new passing standard will take effect on April 1, 2010, in conjunction with the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan.
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After consideration of all available information, the NCSBN Board of Directors determined that safe and effective entry-level RN practice requires a greater level of knowledge, skills, and abilities than was required in 2007, when NCSBN implemented the current standard. The passing standard was increased in response to changes in U.S. health care delivery and nursing practice that have resulted in the greater acuity of clients seen by entry-level RNs.
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The Board of Directors used multiple sources of information to guide its evaluation and discussion regarding the change in passing standard. As part of this process, NCSBN convened an expert panel of nine nurses to perform a criterion-referenced standard setting procedure. The panel’s findings supported the creation of a higher passing standard. NCSBN also considered the results of national surveys of nursing professionals including nursing educators, directors of nursing in acute care settings and administrators of long-term care facilities.
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In accordance with a motion adopted by the 1989 NCSBN Delegate Assembly, the NCSBN Board of Directors evaluates the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN examination every three years to protect the public by ensuring minimal competence for entry-level RNs. NCSBN coordinates the passing standard analysis with the three-year cycle of test plan evaluation.  This three-year cycle was developed to keep the test plan and passing standard current. A PDF of the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan is available free of charge from the NCSBN Web site https://www.ncsbn.org/2010_NCLEX_RN_TestPlan.pdf.
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The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also four associate members.

Mission: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), composed of Member Boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for public protection.
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Media inquiries may be directed to the contact listed above. Technical inquiries about the NCLEX examination may be directed to the NCLEX information line at 1.866.293.9600 or nclexinfo@ncsbn.org.
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The definition of a logit may be found on NCSBN’s Web site at https://www.ncsbn.org/02_18_05_brief.pdf.

In response to the e-mails that we have received regarding HIV and since it is a rising issue and point of argument every February, we have decided to republish this fact sheet that’s originally prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to correct a few misperceptions about HIV.

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Research has revealed a great deal of valuable medical, scientific, and public health information about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The ways in which HIV can be transmitted have been clearly identified. Unfortunately, false information or statements that are not supported by scientific findings continue to be shared widely through the Internet or popular press.

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How HIV Is Transmitted

HIV is spread by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with someone who is infected, or, less commonly (and now very rarely in countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies), through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors. Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breastfeeding after birth.

In the health care setting, workers have been infected with HIV after being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood or, less frequently, after infected blood gets into a worker’s open cut or a mucous membrane (for example, the eyes or inside of the nose). There has been only one instance of patients being infected by a health care worker in the United States; this involved HIV transmission from one infected dentist to six patients. Investigations have been completed involving more than 22,000 patients of 63 HIV-infected physicians, surgeons, and dentists, and no other cases of this type of transmission have been identified in the United States.

Some people fear that HIV might be transmitted in other ways; however, no scientific evidence to support any of these fears has been found. If HIV were being transmitted through other routes (such as through air, water, or insects), the pattern of reported AIDS cases would be much different from what has been observed. For example, if mosquitoes could transmit HIV infection, many more young children and preadolescents would have been diagnosed with AIDS.

All reported cases suggesting new or potentially unknown routes of transmission are thoroughly investigated by state and local health departments with the assistance, guidance, and laboratory support from CDC. No additional routes of transmission have been recorded, despite a national sentinel system designed to detect just such an occurrence.

The following paragraphs specifically address some of the common misperceptions about HIV transmission.

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HIV in the Environment

Scientists and medical authorities agree that HIV does not survive well in the environment, making the possibility of environmental transmission remote. HIV is found in varying concentrations or amounts in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, saliva, and tears. (See page 3, Saliva, Tears, and Sweat.) To obtain data on the survival of HIV, laboratory studies have required the use of artificially high concentrations of laboratory-grown virus. Although these unnatural concentrations of HIV can be kept alive for days or even weeks under precisely controlled and limited laboratory conditions, CDC studies have shown that drying of even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the amount of infectious virus by 90 to 99 percent within several hours. Since the HIV concentrations used in laboratory studies are much higher than those actually found in blood or other specimens, drying of HIV-infected human blood or other body fluids reduces the theoretical risk of environmental transmission to that which has been observed—essentially zero. Incorrect interpretation of conclusions drawn from laboratory studies has unnecessarily alarmed some people.

Results from laboratory studies should not be used to assess specific personal risk of infection because (1) the amount of virus studied is not found in human specimens or elsewhere in nature; and (2) no one has been identified as infected with HIV due to contact with an environmental surface. Additionally, HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions, therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

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Households

Although HIV has been transmitted between family members in a household setting, this type of transmission is very rare. These transmissions are believed to have resulted from contact between skin or mucous membranes and infected blood. To prevent even such rare occurrences, precautions, as described in previously published guidelines, should be taken in all settings “including the home” to prevent exposures to the blood of persons who are HIV infected, at risk for HIV infection, or whose infection and risk status are unknown. For example,

• Gloves should be worn during contact with blood or other body fluids that could possibly contain visible blood, such as urine, feces, or vomit.
• Cuts, sores, or breaks on both the caregiver’s and patient’s exposed skin should be covered with bandages.
• Hands and other parts of the body should be washed immediately after contact with blood or other body fluids, and surfaces soiled with blood should be disinfected appropriately.
• Practices that increase the likelihood of blood contact, such as sharing of razors and toothbrushes, should be avoided.
• Needles and other sharp instruments should be used only when medically necessary and handled according to recommendations for health-care settings. (Do not put caps back on needles by hand or remove needles from syringes. Dispose of needles in puncture-proof containers out of the reach of children and visitors.)

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Businesses and Other Settings

There is no known risk of HIV transmission to co-workers, clients, or consumers from contact in industries such as food-service establishments (see information on survival of HIV in the environment). Food-service workers known to be infected with HIV need not be restricted from work unless they have other infections or illnesses (such as diarrhea or hepatitis A) for which any food-service worker, regardless of HIV infection status, should be restricted. CDC recommends that all food-service workers follow recommended standards and practices of good personal hygiene and food sanitation.

In 1985, CDC issued routine precautions that all personal-service workers (such as hairdressers, barbers, cosmetologists, and massage therapists) should follow, even though there is no evidence of transmission from a personal-service worker to a client or vice versa. Instruments that are intended to penetrate the skin (such as tattooing and acupuncture needles, ear piercing devices) should be used once and disposed of or thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. Instruments not intended to penetrate the skin but which may become contaminated with blood (for example, razors) should be used for only one client and disposed of or thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use. Personal-service workers can use the same cleaning procedures that are recommended for health care institutions.

CDC knows of no instances of HIV transmission through tattooing or body piercing, although hepatitis B virus has been transmitted during some of these practices. One case of HIV transmission from acupuncture has been documented. Body piercing (other than ear piercing) is relatively new in the United States, and the medical complications for body piercing appear to be greater than for tattoos. Healing of piercings generally will take weeks, and sometimes even months, and the pierced tissue could conceivably be abraded (torn or cut) or inflamed even after healing. Therefore, a theoretical HIV transmission risk does exist if the unhealed or abraded tissues come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other infectious body fluid. Additionally, HIV could be transmitted if instruments contaminated with blood are not sterilized or disinfected between clients.

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Kissing

Casual contact through closed-mouth or “social” kissing is not a risk for transmission of HIV. Because of the potential for contact with blood during “French” or open-mouth kissing, CDC recommends against engaging in this activity with a person known to be infected. However, the risk of acquiring HIV during open-mouth kissing is believed to be very low. CDC has investigated only one case of HIV infection that may be attributed to contact with blood during open-mouth kissing.

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Biting

In 1997, CDC published findings from a state health department investigation of an incident that suggested blood-to-blood transmission of HIV by a human bite. There have been other reports in the medical literature in which HIV appeared to have been transmitted by a bite. Severe trauma with extensive tissue tearing and damage and presence of blood were reported in each of these instances. Biting is not a common way of transmitting HIV. In fact, there are numerous reports of bites that did not result in HIV infection.

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Saliva, Tears, and Sweat

HIV has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities from some AIDS patients. It is important to understand that finding a small amount of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that HIV can be transmitted by that body fluid. HIV has not been recovered from the sweat of HIV-infected persons. Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV.

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Insects

From the onset of the HIV epidemic, there has been concern about transmission of the virus by biting and bloodsucking insects. However, studies conducted by researchers at CDC and elsewhere have shown no evidence of HIV transmission through insects—even in areas where there are many cases of AIDS and large populations of insects such as mosquitoes. Lack of such outbreaks, despite intense efforts to detect them, supports the conclusion that HIV is not transmitted by insects.

The results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior indicate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten person’s or animal’s blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant or anticoagulant so the insect can feed efficiently. Such diseases as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through the saliva of specific species of mosquitoes. However, HIV lives for only a short time inside an insect and, unlike organisms that are transmitted via insect bites, HIV does not reproduce (and does not survive) in insects. Thus, even if the virus enters a mosquito or another sucking or biting insect, the insect does not become infected and cannot transmit HIV to the next human it feeds on or bites. HIV is not found in insect feces.

There is also no reason to fear that a biting or bloodsucking insect, such as a mosquito, could transmit HIV from one person to another through HIV-infected blood left on its mouth parts. Two factors serve to explain why this is so–first, infected people do not have constant, high levels of HIV in their bloodstreams and, second, insect mouth parts do not retain large amounts of blood on their surfaces. Further, scientists who study insects have determined that biting insects normally do not travel from one person to the next immediately after ingesting blood. Rather, they fly to a resting place to digest this blood meal.

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Effectiveness of Condoms

Condoms are classified as medical devices and are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Condom manufacturers in the United States test each latex condom for defects, including holes, before it is packaged. The proper and consistent use of latex or polyurethane (a type of plastic) condoms when engaging in sexual intercourse—vaginal, anal, or oral—can greatly reduce a person’s risk of acquiring or transmitting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.

There are many different types and brands of condoms available—however, only latex or polyurethane condoms provide a highly effective mechanical barrier to HIV. In laboratories, viruses occasionally have been shown to pass through natural membrane (“skin” or lambskin) condoms, which may contain natural pores and are therefore not recommended for disease prevention (they are documented to be effective for contraception). Women may wish to consider using the female condom when a male condom cannot be used.

For condoms to provide maximum protection, they must be usedconsistently (every time) and correctly. Several studies of correct and consistent condom use clearly show that latex condom breakage rates in this country are less than 2 percent. Even when condoms do break, one study showed that more than half of such breaks occurred prior to ejaculation.

When condoms are used reliably, they have been shown to prevent pregnancy up to 98 percent of the time among couples using them as their only method of contraception. Similarly, numerous studies among sexually active people have demonstrated that a properly used latex condom provides a high degree of protection against a variety of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.

For more detailed information about condoms, see the CDC publication “Male Latex Condoms and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.“

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CDC’s Response

CDC is committed to providing the scientific community and the public with accurate and objective information about HIV infection and AIDS. It is vital that clear information on HIV infection and AIDS be readily available to help prevent further transmission of the virus and to allay fears and prejudices caused by misinformation.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm