AIDSinfo (AIDSinfo.nih.gov) is the online service provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that supplies the visitor with lots of information related to HIV/AIDS. The web site contains the latest federally approved information on research, clinical trials, and treatment for patients and health care providers and is organized into five main categories: education and resource center, guidelines, drugs, vaccines, and clinical trials. For each of the categories, the visitor finds brochures and PDF files ready for download as well as links to other sources. In the categories of vaccine and clinical trials, visitors can create their own search criteria, customizing the search query according to specific needs. Although the brochures and publications can be requested by e-mail, most can only be obtained by regular mail (which is limited to mailing addresses in the U.S.). Don't be fooled though when you see a shopping cart close to the word "Publications". Yes, there is a shopping cart which you can fill up with your orders and there is a checkout process, but there is no request for credit card numbers or electronic accounts. All publications up to 10 items are free. Most are available in English and Spanish.

And there is more. For doctors, patients, nurses and others in a hurry, AIDSinfo offers the alternative of having information downloaded directly into your Pocket PC or Palm PDA, so you can read on the road. Additionally, to keep current with the latest in AIDS and HIV information, visitors can subscribe to an e-mail update service to receive HIV/AIDS and treatment guidelines updates.

The web site is very easy to navigate, offers a wealth of information and includes a useful glossary, making terms such as viral load and western blot easier to understand. Sponsors of AIDSinfo include the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).