• 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!
• The Health Insurance Page

What Is HIV Antibody Testing?

Whether you have HIV or not, can be determined only by various testing methods. HIV is one of the most dreaded diseases that has popped up in the recent times, claiming lives of thousands of people all over the world. HIV antibody testing is a very important test which greatly helps in the diagnosis of the disease. Even before the first symptoms are seen it is necessary to go for testing, if in doubt. A lot of people hesitate to go to the doctor fearing the results could be positive. One of the greatest advantages of HIV antibody testing that you can rely on it and it is very affordable too. Many tests were introduced in the earlier years but the antibody testing methods have stood the test of time.

The first antibody test that became very popular was the ELISA test. HIV infection in the body can be fought by certain proteins in the body which are termed as antibodies. In the HIV antibody testing methods these antibodies are first located which are usually present in the urine, blood and also in the saliva of the individual to a certain extent. Just a small indication is enough to prove that the person is HIV positive. It is very important these days to have appropriate knowledge about this disease. HIV claims lives and the sooner that the disease is detected the better. There are treatment options now available to buy back some amount of health but only in the initial stages.

HIV virus is transmitted usually during blood transfusion, infected syringes, from a HIV infected mother to its baby, and through unprotected sex. Transfusion of blood is one of the most common methods of contracting the virus, but these days, without testing the blood for HIV, it is not used for transfusion purposes at all. It is for this reason that there has been a decrease in HIV cases in the recent times. Though all developed countries adopt all preventive methods for eliminating the disease, it still prevails in many developing and under developed countries. HIV Antibody tests are perfect in the sense that they are able to locate even the tiny antibodies within the system.

Even after this test comes positive there is another test which is conducted to confirm the test. Once the HIV virus infects the body, the antibodies start growing within. If a HIV antibody test is done in the window period, which is a period when the virus attacks the body and antibodies start growing, chances are that the HIV test may prove negative. It is important to note that when the test is done in such a period you can get a negative result, but this does not rule out the fact that you are HIV infected. If there is any doubt about an infection it is best to go for a test again after a few weeks, but it is recommended that these tests be done at least every quarter of the year to be fully convinced.