However, Frazier said she wants to insure thatstudents feel comfortable coming to UHS fortesting, rather than seeking another facilitywhich may not be so supportive.
"We don't want to be pushing students into asystem that we don't know much about," saidFrazier. "Our worst fear is that people will goand get tested anonymously else where, but notreceive accurate results or proper pre-test andposttest counseling."
AEO students are concerned that patients who donot know the difference between the two types oftest will not understand the consequences of theconfidential-rather than fully anonymous-testingprocedure.
The poll found that before explanations by AEOmembers, 40 percent of students did not know thedifference between the two types of test, saidJeanne L. Kwong '96, who is an AEO peer educator.
"Many of them were upperclassmen," said Gutter."This is trouble some because the first placeupperclassmen go when they want to get tested isUHS."
But the biggest concern for both Frazier andthe student members of AEO is that most Harvardstudents are not getting tested at all, whether atUHS' confidential site or an anonymous siteelsewhere.
AEO members say they have found that while asignificant number of Harvard students are awareof HIV-related issues, they do not translate thisknowledge into taking preventive measures.
"We assume that here at Harvard because wedon't have extensive drug use, we're not at risk,"said Frazier.
"That is simply not true, said Jafi A. Lipson'95, an AEO peer educator.
"There are definitely numbers [of HIV positivecases] here at Harvard," said Lipson, who is aCrimson comper. "Since a Winthrop house tutor diedof AIDS in 1986, many more grad students,teachers, lecturers, former students, and currentstudents have contracted the deadly disease."
Many students think that donating bloodprovides an adequate HIV test, Frazier said.
"Among those students who want to get testedmany think that if they donate blood, this is away to find out if they are HIV positive," shesaid. "However, this form of testing provides nosupport and no education or counseling."
AEO's attempts to educate students can "be veryfrustrating," Lipson said.
"I think until people know other people whoare HIV positive or who have relatives dying ofAIDS, people don't consider it a pressing issue intheir lives," she said. "It's a sad fact."
Anonymous testing is currently offered free ofcost at Cambridge City Hospital, MassachusettsGeneral Hospital and Fenway Hospital