Hiv/aids: The Elisa And Western Blot Test For Hiv

HIV is a virus which has infected millions people worldwide

. Most of those infected have been infected due to participation in certain risk taking behaviours, including activities such as promiscuity and the taking of recreational drugs by means of injection. It is recommended that those who take part in these kinds of behaviours have themselves regularly tested for HIV. The test that is most commonly used to diagnose a chronic infection with HIV is the ELISA in conjunction with the Western blot test.

Some details on the ELISA and Western blot test

The ELISA test makes use of a blood sample to test for HIV. A single sample is drawn by a qualified medical practitioner and sent to one of the laboratories for analysis. In the event that the ELISA test offers an abnormal result, any result which is not definitively negative, then the blood is further analysed by means of the Western blot test. This is because an abnormal ELISA result does not simply indicate that the individual is HIV positive. Other conditions can lead to an abnormal result. These conditions include illnesses such as Lyme disease, lupus and syphilis. It is then the Western blot test which yields the final result on the blood sample and will determine if they are either HIV positive or negative. If the Western blot test is also unclear then there are further tests which can be done to acquire a definitive result.

Some important considerations

It is now customary for every pregnant woman to undergo an HIV test to ensure that she is either HIV negative or, if she tests positive, to try to ensure that she does not pass the virus on to her unborn child.

It is also common for those who present with an unusual infection to be tested for HIV as well as those who are admitted for medical care with illnesses such as pneumonia and Kaposi's sarcoma. This is as a result of the increased vulnerability that HIV causes for conditions such as these as well as other less common pathogens.

A negative result does not mean that the person is definitively not infected with HIV. In the early stages of infection the virus will not have impacted the immune system to the extent that it will be detected by the ELISA test. It is recommended that individuals who are potentially exposed to the virus on a regular basis get tested on a regular basis. A person who fears that they may have been exposed should be tested at regular intervals until it is certain that they are not infected.

It is also often advised that a person who may have been exposed to the virus start a preliminary course of antiretroviral treatment in order to attempt to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold. This treatment is not totally foolproof but it has been found to reduce the risk of infection if it is started almost instantly after the potential exposure and it is always better to be slightly overcautious when it comes to this virus.

by: steyme42po

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