Who should get tested for HIV?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HIV testing be offered to everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 regardless of risk factors. They suggest that those people at high risk for HIV infection should be tested at least once a year. They also recommend HIV testing as part of routine prenatal care early in pregnancy.
Those at risk for HIV infection include:
- Men who have had male sex partners
- Men and women with multiple sex partners
- People who inject drugs and their sex partners
- People who exchange sex for money or drugs
- People who have had sex partners who are HIV-infected or bisexual
- People who have other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Anyone who had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985, before HIV testing was available
Talk to your doctor about HIV testing. If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, get tested.
What is the difference between initial screening and confirmatory testing?
The initial screening test for HIV is called the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It looks for the presence of HIV antibodies in your blood. The ELISA test isn't 100 percent accurate, and it sometimes gives false-positive results.
To confirm the first result, the ELISA test is repeated. If positive, a second test called the Western blot is used because it is more specific. If both the ELISA and Western blot are positive, the person will be diagnosed HIV positive.
How are the tests performed?
A needle is inserted into a vein, usually in the forearm. Blood is drawn and collected in a tube, which is then sent to a laboratory for testing.
Are there tests that don't involve drawing blood?
Yes.Oral fluid tests and urine tests are also offered at many clinics and HIV testing locations. Oral fluids are collected by swabbing the upper and lower gums.
If a person tests positive on an oral fluid or urine test, blood tests are then used to confirm HIV infection.
How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?
You may need to wait 2 to 8 weeks to get accurate results. That's because it takes time for the body to develop enough antibodies against HIV for the test to detect them. This "window period" averages 25 days but differs from person to person. In rare cases, it can take as long as 6 months. So if you test negative for HIV, for example, 3 months after exposure, you should be retested 3 months later.
What are rapid HIV tests?
A rapid test for detecting HIV antibodies is a screening test that produces very quick results, usually in 5 to 30 minutes. It may take a few days to get results from the commonly used HIV antibody-screening test, ELISA. The advantage of rapid testing is that you can get the test result as well as HIV counseling in the same session.
Further testing is done to confirm a positive rapid test.
Can I get an AIDS test anonymously?
Anonymous testing means that you never give your name to anyone at the clinic and there is no record of your test results. Some states do not permit anonymous testing, but most do.
For anonymous testing, you receive a unique patient number when you call for an appointment. You use this number for identification when you go to the clinic to be tested. You also use this number to collect your test results.
What about at-home HIV testing?
In the United States, only one home HIV test kit has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It's called the "Home Access Express HIV-1 Test System" or "Home Access HIV-1 Test System." It has been proven to be safe to use and accurate. The test is made by Home Access Health Corporation and can be bought in drugstores or ordered by mail or online.
The Home Access test lets users collect a blood sample for testing in the privacy of their home. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results are obtained by calling a toll-free telephone number using an anonymous personal identification number.
Many unapproved home HIV tests are sold illegally, especially over the Internet. According to the FDA, these tests lack medical laboratory testing and controls. Therefore they may not give accurate results.
If I test HIV negative, does that mean I do not have an infection?
Not necessarily. If you test too soon after exposure to HIV, your immune system may not have developed enough antibodies for the test to detect them. During this window period, which can range from 2 weeks to 6 months, you could be infected even though the test was negative. If you are, you could pass HIV infection to someone else.
Talk to your doctor if you think you were exposed to HIV and find out when you should be tested.
What if I have a confirmed positive test for HIV?
A positive test indicates exposure to HIV and an immune response to that exposure. It does not mean you have AIDS. With good medical care, AIDS can often be kept at bay for many years. If you test positive, take prompt steps to protect your health and avoid exposing others to the virus.
See a doctor right away, even if you do not feel sick. Try to find a doctor who has experience treating people with HIV.
