subject: Information On Hiv Testing [print this page] Many people are concerned about contracting HIV. The fear is a valid one as there are a good number of new infections detected each year, especially amongst the populations of third world countries. We will be discussing HIV testing in a little more depth.
There are certain behaviours that should encourage you to have yourself tested for HIV on a regular basis. These behaviours include things such as unprotected sex, the injecting of drugs or steroids (especially if this is done with shared equipment) and prostitution. This is classified as risky behaviour and if you do take part in any of these activities it is recommended that you are tested for HIV annually. It is also important for a woman who is either planning on getting pregnant, or is currently pregnant, to be tested for HIV so that treatment can be started as soon as possible and the risk of infecting the infant is reduced.
Getting tested is all good and well however there are a few things that you need to know about the actual test itself. The test works by checking for the presence of HIV antibodies, a particular T-cell that is produced by your immune system in response to the virus. These antibodies do not start to appear immediately however. This means that if you get tested immediately after a potential exposure event you will not get an accurate result. It takes the average immune system 25 days to produce enough antibodies for the HIV test to detect. It is recommended that, if you test negative within three months after the exposure event, you get retested after at least three months. This is because it is possible that the immune response is somewhat slower than is normal and antibodies are only produced as long as six months after the exposure event has allowed the virus to enter your system. Any test that gives a positive result must be confirmed through a second test as false positives are possible.
The most commonly used test is a blood test where the antibodies that are produced in response to the viral infection are looked for. There is an RNA test available which detects the virus itself rather than the antibodies. This test is effective after eleven days. This test is far more costly than the blood test and is subsequently used less frequently. There are also tests which can use urine or saliva instead of blood though the blood test is preferred.
It should be evident to you by now whether you should be concerned about your HIV status or not. If you are concerned then it is recommended that you get tested as soon as possible. If you engage in any of the risk taking behaviours listed earlier on in this article then you should ensure that you are tested for HIV infection on a regular basis. If you are uncertain about any aspect of the HIV test then consult with your physician to allay your concerns.
