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HIV Testing Info

 
Why Get Tested?
To determine if you are infected with HIV, testing is recommended if:
  • You are sexually active (three or more sexual partners in the last 12 months).
  • You received a blood transfusion prior to 1985, or a sexual partner received a transfusion and later tested positive for HIV. For more information, see the CDC webpage How safe is the blood supply in the US?
  • You are uncertain about your sexual partner’s risk behaviors.
  • You are a male who has had sex with another male.
  • You have used street drugs by injection, especially when sharing needles and/or other equipment.
  • You have a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
  • You are a health care worker with direct exposure to blood on the job.
  • You are pregnant. (There are now treatments that can greatly reduce the risk that a pregnant woman who has HIV will give the virus to her baby.)
  • You are a woman who wants to make sure you are not infected with HIV before getting pregnant (see Pregnancy: Pre-conception, HIV).
When to Get Tested?
One month to three months after you think you may have been exposed to the virus; the average time for the antibody to be detected is two weeks after exposure to the virus
 
How is the Sample Collected for Testing?
A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm or an oral sample is obtained by using a special small, spatula-like device with a flat pad on the end. The flat pad is placed above the teeth against the outer gum and is swabbed completely once around the outer part of the upper and lower gums. There also are tests available that can be performed on urine.
 
Test Preparation Needed?
None
 
What is being Tested?
This test detects HIV antibodies in blood or other body fluids. HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which destroys the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to debilitating infections. When HIV enters the body, such as through contact with an infected individual or contaminated needle, the immune system responds by producing antibodies directed against the virus. These antibodies can be detected about 3 to 8 weeks after exposure to the virus. If exposure to the virus is more recent, then antibody levels may be too low to detect. It may be necessary to perform a p24 antigen test or an HIV RNA (viral load) test in order to detect the virus.
 
What does the Test Result Mean?
A healthy individual has no antibodies to HIV. However, a negative screening test means only that there is no evidence of disease at the time of the test. It is important for those who are at increased risk of HIV infection to have screening tests performed on a regular basis to check for possible exposure to the virus.
If you test positive for HIV antibodies on both the ELISA and the Western Blot tests, you are considered to be infected with HIV. HIV cannot be cured, but early diagnosis allows for treatment that can help to suppress levels of virus in your body (viral load) and slow progression of the disease.
 
Is there Anything Else I should Know?
Antibody testing will not detect HIV immediately after exposure, during the window before the development of antibodies. If you are tested too soon, your result may be negative despite the fact that you are infected (false negative). In this case, you may be tested using a p24 antigen test that can detect actual viral protein in the blood 1 to 3-4 weeks after exposure or an HIV RNA test (viral load) that detects the presence of the virus, not the antibody response to it. Or you should have another HIV antibody test in 3–6 months from the time of a possible exposure to the virus.
 
Common Questions
1.  What are the symptoms of HIV infection?
The only reliable way to tell if you are infected with HIV is to get tested. This is because many people with HIV do not experience symptoms for years after the initial infection or have symptoms that are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses. Click here for information from the CDC on symptoms of HIV infection.
 
2.  When does AIDS develop?
Symptoms of the initial HIV infection can mimic those of influenza and other viral infections. The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. According to the CDC, AIDS is diagnosed when your CD4 T-cell count drops below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood or when you have HIV and an AIDS-related illness such as tuberculosis. Click here for more information from the CDC.
 
3.  What are the treatments for HIV/AIDS?
Currently, there is no cure for HIV or AIDS. However, there are therapies that can help. The CDC’s booklet, Living with HIV/AIDS, is available online. The FDA also offers an online list of FDA-approved therapies. Early treatment is recommended.
 
4.  Should I tell anyone else of my test results?
Yes. If you test positive for HIV, it is important that you tell your health care providers as well as all current and future sex partners and/or anyone with whom you share needles. Counseling services are often available from the clinic that performed the test or from your health care provider that will help you to inform the people who need to know.
 
5.  How confidential are HIV test results?
Your HIV status, like other medical conditions and test results, is protected by the HIPAA Privacy Rule and cannot be shared with friends, family, or employers without your written permission. Your HIV status may be shared with your health care providers who have a “need to know” in order to treat you. Also, in order to determine the incidence of HIV and to provide appropriate prevention and care services, all new cases of HIV are reported to state and local health departments.
 
Certain testing centers provide either anonymous (your name is never given) or confidential (your name is given but kept private) HIV testing and counseling. The FDA has approved one home testing device that allows you to remain anonymous and to get confidential results. You can also contact your state, county, or city health department to find out where testing may be available.
 
6.  Can you use the HIV antibody test to detect HIV in newborns?
No. Because maternal antibodies are transferred from mother to baby and stay in the newborn’s system for 6–12 months, a different test must be used. This test is called the HIV DNA test (see FAQ #2 here).
 
7.  Are there HIV testing methods other than a blood test?
Yes. Methods that test either oral fluid or urine are available in some locations. The CDC has more information on the different types of HIV screening tests available in the U.S. (click here).