Educate Yourself about HIV and HIV Testing

STDTestMD
STDTestMD
Aug 8, 2017 · 4 min read

HIV can be and should be, an important concern for sexually active people who have multiple partners. In addition to practicing safe sex by using condoms and being upfront about your STD status with any new partners, regular HIV testing is a critical component in maintaining your sexual health.

What are the basics of HIV testing?

If you are concerned about having been exposed to HIV, you should seek medical advice right away. You are encouraged to visit your doctor, or one of the free, confidential HIV testing centers located in every city across the United States. For those who prefer an even more private or convenient approach, there are options for testing online or at home.

There are a variety of types of HIV testing available, and the right choice for you depends on several factors. Seeking professional advice as soon as you think you’ve been exposed will give you the guidance you need to get the right type of testing within the appropriate time-frame.

When is the best time to get tested for HIV?

With HIV testing, there is a period that it takes for an HIV infection to show up as a positive test result in a person who has been infected. This time is known as the window period. Each type of test is most effective within a certain window period. The typical window period is anywhere from 10 days to 3 months, which is dependent on each person’s body as well as the type of HIV test that is used.

It’s important to be aware that if you don’t test during the appropriate window period, your results may be HIV negative even though you may be HIV positive.

What does each type of test check for?

Each of the types of HIV tests looks for different matter in the bloodstream or in a saliva sample that shows whether the virus is present in the body. The most common tests, and what specifically they are checking for, is described here:

  • Rapid antibody test — Antibodies are produced by the immune system when you are exposed to an infection. If you were exposed to HIV, your immune system would produce antibodies, which is what this test looks for to determine a positive result.
  • Rapid antibody/antigen combination test (4th generation HIV test)- This test also detects antibodies, but it can also detect tiny fragments of the virus itself, called p24 antigens. The p24 antigen can be detected in the body sooner than antibodies.
  • RNA test– RNA tests look for a presence of HIV itself in your blood plasma. This test detects the virus sooner than an antibody test, about 9–11 days after exposure.
  • PCR tests — Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testsalso look for the presence of the virus itself. PCR tests are often used to check the viral load in people who are already HIV positive.

Home testing– There are two types of FDA-approved home HIV tests:

  • OraQuick by OraSure– An antibody test that collects saliva and is completed at home.
  • Home Access HIV-1 — This home-sample kit allows you to collect a blood sample and mail it to a lab for testing.

Each test is most effective within a particular window of time after exposure to HIV. Below are the best test based on the number of days of exposure?

  • HIV Early Detection test (HIV RNA Test) — The virus is detectable 9–11 days after exposure, sober than an antibody test.
  • PCR/HIV viral load test- The virus can be detected at 7–14 days after infection. 95% of infected people will test positive between 3 days — 6 weeks. This test is not very accurate and is expensive, so it’s typically not used.
  • Rapid antibody/antigen test (p24 test) — Virus is detectable around day 16 on average. 95% of infected people will test positive between 1–8 weeks.
  • 4th generation HIV antigen/antibody test — 95% of infected people will test positive after 28 days.
  • Rapid antibody tests — 99.99% of infected people will test positive at 90 days.

Is there one test that provides the most coverage?

The most commonly used test is the antibody test, however, the 4th generation antibody/antigen test is also becoming common. RNA tests are the most accurate and sensitive tests on the market and are rapidly gaining popularity and the first choice in testing. No test is perfect — each test has a chance of a false negative where a person will get an HIV negative result when they are HIV positive, which is why re-testing is recommended.

When should I go for re-testing based on my initial exposure?

Since an antibody test will detect nearly 100% of infections at 90 days after infection, the recommendation is for people who receive a negative result get tested at 3 months after exposure to confirm their results.

Educate Yourself

The number of testing options can make it hard to determine which test is right for you. The guidance of your doctor or a professional at an HIV testing center can assist you in making sense of the options based on your case and window period. Being educated in your choices beforehand makes a significant difference in your ability to understand their recommendations and make an informed decision for yourself.

The original post was published here

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade