Things You'll Need:
- Physician
- Access to clinical drug trials
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Step 1
Talk to your doctor about accessing clinical trials, if you want to aid HIV and AIDS research or want to take advantage of new and potentially effective treatments for symptoms related to the conditions. Your doctor is an excellent place to begin your search.
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Step 2
Contact your local arm of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They will also have the inside track on upcoming clinical trials that have been approved by the U.S. government.
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Step 3
Check with your local university health network, if you live in or near a town or city that has a university with a medical school. Many clinical trials are sponsored by research and educational organizations.
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Step 1
Learn about the various types of HIV and AIDS clinical trials that are conducted by research organizations. These include but are not limited to: treatment trials, vaccine trials, prevention experiments, observational trials and early-infection trials.
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Step 2
Select a clinical trial to participate in with the help of your doctor or primary caregiver. Understand that not all clinical trials are suitable for all patients and that you will have to meet specific criteria to be allowed to take part.
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Step 3
Contact the organization hosting the clinical trial you've chosen and learn more about the conditions you must meet to be allowed to participate. If your condition has certain complications, for example, you may be disqualified from some trials while the very same complications may be required for you to participate in another.
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Step 4
Ask for comprehensive information that details the scope and objectives of the clinical trial, what treatments are being tested, and what risks and benefits come with the experimental treatments. Evaluate the situation with the help of your doctor before committing.
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Step 5
Make sure you fully understand what's required of you by the clinical trial. Some will be conducted on an outpatient basis, while others may require you to spend a specified amount of time (days or weeks) in the clinical setting. You may also have to abstain from partaking in certain lifestyle choices (alcohol, tobacco, drug use) for the duration of the trial.
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Step 6
Consent to participate in the clinical trial once you've deemed it safe and appropriate to your condition. You might be compensated by the organizers. Ensure that you are fully able to satisfy all participation criteria before joining the trial.
