• Why HIV Testing Is Important
• The Need For HIV Testing
• Information Of HIV Testing
• All You Need To Know About HIV Testing
• What Is HIV Antibody Testing?
• Implications Of Rapid And Antigen HIV Testing
• How Do Fourth Generation And PCR HIV Testing Methods Help?
• HIV Sampling And Testing At Home!
• Health Blog Healthy Vibes

Information Of HIV Testing

HIV tests are done to determine if an individual is infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus. There are a number of tests through which you get to know if you're infected with the HIV virus. Health care centers the world over carry out different types of tests. An individual who is concerned about being exposed to the virus should get an HIV test done. In general anyone and everyone who is sexually active or injects needles while taking drugs should take an HIV test. Most of the tests done for HIV testing are not expensive and provide accurate results. The tests can determine and distinguish the minute amounts of HIV antibodies from the presence of other antibodies. HIV tests look for the presence of antibodies produced by the immune system.

If individuals know they are infected with the HIV virus, they need to undergo other tests to measure the strength of their immunity levels and the rate at which the virus is multiplying. The common tests that are used to detect HIV infection are (EIA) Enzyme immunoassay, (ELISA) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blot assay. The accuracy of results depends on the stage of the infection in the individual. A blood sample of the individual is analyzed and tested in the lab. The tests take around a week or two to complete depending on the different tests required. These tests do not look for the presence of the virus but the presence of antibodies to HIV. Although these tests take a slightly long time, they provide accurate detection.

To get quick results an individual can go in for a Rapid HIV test. This test is similar to the ELISA test. The result of this test can be produced within 20 minutes form the time the blood sample or oral fluid is collected. As it provides fairly accurate results fast, it is slightly expensive. If the result of this test is positive other tests including Western bolt assay are required. In oral HIV tests, saliva samples are scraped from the inside of the cheek. This sample is tested to determine and detect HIV antibodies. EIA tests and Western bolt tests may be used to detect the presence of the virus. Oral fluid samples produce accurate testing results similar to blood samples.

Although health care centers offer urine based tests these are not as accurate as tests determined from oral fluid and blood sample. Centers and laboratories the world over maintain the confidentiality and anonymity of the individual that undergoes HIV testing. The individual getting a HIV test done doesn't have to provide his name. If the name is provided by the individual, the testing center keeps that record confidential. Although no antibody test is fully accurate, it must be ensured that a test along with other combined tests need to be done two or more times, to provide a near accurate result. Although different types of HIV test kits can be sourced through the internet, they do not provide accurate testing results, so choose wisely.