| Different Types of HIV Test |
| The 2 types of tests most commonly used to detect
HIV infection are the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) and Western
blot tests. These tests are very accurate, but they are only able to
detect HIV antibodies and not the HIV virus particle itself. |
| A process is followed to determine if you are HIV positive. |
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First, the ELISA
test is performed. |
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If the
ELISA test is negative for the detection of HIV antibodies, the test
is reported as negative. |
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If the
ELISA test is positive for the detection of HIV antibodies, the ELISA
test is repeated on the same blood sample |
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If the
sample is repeatedly reactive by ELISA, the results are then confirmed
using the Western blot test. |
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The
Western blot test is more accurate, though it is also more expensive
and takes longer to perform. |
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As a
combination, the ELISA and Western blot tests have a very high degree
of accuracy when the sample is taken outside of the window period. |
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If both
the ELISA and Western blot tests are positive, you are presumed to
be HIV positive. |
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Although
the ELISA and Western blot are the most commonly used tests for HIV,
other HIV tests can be performed with even higher accuracy and fewer
uncertainties concerning the window period. These tests detect the
actual HIV virus particles or viral load as opposed to the HIV antibody. |
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Although
extremely sensitive (some viral load tests can detect a single virus
particle in as many as 100,000 cells), they are labor-intensive and
not recommended for routine HIV testing. |
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These
tests must be ordered by a doctor and therefore cannot be performed
anonymously. The viral load HIV tests are usually reserved to guide
anti-viral therapy for people known to be HIV infected, pregnant women,
and infants born to mothers with HIV. |
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You
can also test yourself for HIV at home. Currently, only the Home Access
HIV Test is approved by the Food and Drug Administration |
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| There
are many reasons to have an HIV test performed. |
| Take advantage of early treatment and monitoring. |
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The
life expectancy of a person infected with HIV has greatly increased
over the past 10 years because of new treatments and prevention of
opportunistic infections. |
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Early
medical attention can slow the growth of HIV. The slower the virus
spreads, the longer your body will be able to ward off the illnesses
and life-threatening conditions that often accompany AIDS. |
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Know
about HIV so that you do not transmit the virus to others including
sexual partners and future children. |
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Medical
treatment with medications, such as zidovudine (AZT), may reduce the
risk of a pregnant woman infecting her unborn child with HIV.
Anonymous HIV testing is available in most states. Often, the tests
are funded by the public health department and are performed at no cost.
Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one, except yourself, has
access to your test results because your name is never recorded at the
test site.
You will be given a letter and number code that will be matched with
the test results.
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Most anonymous test sites provide pretest counseling and risk assessment.
You must return, in person, in about 1-2 weeks to get your results.
Anonymous testing sites never give written results and are often preferred
because they protect you from risks of discrimination and disclosure
to insurance companies.
If you give your name at an HIV test site, the test is considered confidential,
not anonymous. Confidential antibody testing means that both you and
the doctor will know your results, which may be recorded as a written
report in your medical file. As a permanent record in your medical file,
the information may be available to insurance companies and public agencies. |
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| Anonymous HIV antibody testing may not be an option in several
circumstances. |
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Active
military personnel and all men and women seeking to join the armed
services are required to participate in annual HIV testing, and a
military doctor can notify the spouse of a reservist if that reservist
has tested positive. |
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All
applicants for US residency must take an HIV-antibody test as part
of the compulsory medical exam. Those who test positive are denied
residency automatically. This measure also applies to all people requesting
change in residence status, including citizenship applications. |
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Anonymous
testing sites will not perform an antibody test on children under
the age of 12. Children under 12 have to be tested through a private
physician or clinic where the results will be confidential not anonymous. |
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Virtually
every state has passed laws dealing directly with HIV or AIDS. Many
states have enacted policies and laws that protect HIV-related information
either directly or indirectly. Because laws may vary among states,
it is prudent to be informed prior to consenting to an HIV test. Call
your state or local health department to find out what the laws are
in your state. |
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Test
Results |
For most HIV tests, a small amount of blood will be drawn from your arm
and tested. In some cases, urine or saliva is used.
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Most
HIV tests detect antibodies to HIV in the blood, urine, or saliva.
A person who is not infected with HIV will not have HIV antibodies.
HIV antibodies are only present when the HIV has invaded the body.
As the body’s immune system fights the HIV virus, it creates
antibodies to that virus to fight off the infection. |
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The
time it takes to get your test results varies from 30 minutes to a
few weeks. Usually, publicly funded, free testing sites take longer
to return test results. Private, for-profit, testing sites will return
results faster. Costs at private HIV testing sites vary between $30
and $200 per test. |
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It
takes time for the body to develop HIV antibodies after infection.
The time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to test
positive for HIV antibodies is called a window period. This window
period does not refer to the time it takes for symptoms of AIDS to
begin. Symptoms may not develop for years after the exposure. |
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| Almost
all people infected with HIV will develop HIV antibodies in their
bloodstream within 3 months of their infection. |
| In some people, it can take as long as 6 months after infection to develop antibodies. |
| If you engaged in behavior that can transmit the virus during
the 6 months prior to HIV testing, you may have a false-negative
test. In other words, your test may be reported to you as negative,
but you may actually be infected because your body may not yet
have produced enough antibodies to be detected by the test. To
be sure, you must be retested at least 6 months after you last
engaged in behavior that can transmit HIV. |
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