Testing
Antibody testing for HIV should be ordered if the person thinks that he may have been exposed to HIV.
Test should be conducted if
A person is sexually active (three or more sexual partners in the last 12 months)
A person has received a blood transfusion or a sexual partner received a transfusion, and later tested positive for HIV
A person is uncertain about his sexual partner's risk behaviors
A person is a male who has had sex with another male
A person has used street drugs by injection, especially when sharing needles and/or other equipment
A person has a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), TB or Hepatitis B & C and is practicing risky behaviors
A person is a health care worker with direct exposure to blood on the job
Someone is pregnant and practicing risky behaviors (There are now treatments that can greatly reduce the risk that a pregnant woman who has HIV will give the virus to her baby)
Results
A healthy individual has no antibodies to HIV
The tests are declared as reactive or non-reactive depending on the results
If a person tests reactive for HIV antibodies on both the ELISA and the Western Blot tests, then he is considered to be infected with HIV
Conditions where one is HIV positive
If you test positive, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment, a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. It is important to know that a positive HIV test should always be confirmed; to be sure that it is a true positive. If your test result is positive, there are a number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your health:
See a doctor, even if you don't feel sick. Try to find a doctor who has experience-treating HIV. There are now many new drugs to treat HIV infection. There are important tests; immunizations and drug treatments that can help you maintain good health. It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities.
Have a tuberculosis (TB) test done. You may be infected with TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness. TB can be treated successfully if detected early.
Recreational drugs, alcoholic beverages and smoking can weaken your immune system. There are programs available to help you stop.
Consider joining a support group for people with HIV infection or finding out about other resources available in your area, such as HIV/AIDS-knowledgeable counselors for one on one therapy. There are also many newsletters available for people living with HIV and AIDS.
There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learning as much as you can is a step in the right direction. Local and/or national resources may be available. Many HIV/AIDS organizations provide services free or on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay.
How long after a possible exposure you should be tested for HIV
The time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to seroconvert (test positive) for HIV antibodies is commonly called the "Window Period."
The California Office of AIDS, published in 1998, says about the window period: "When a person is infected with the HIV virus, statistics show that 95-97% (perhaps higher) of all infected individuals develop antibodies within 12 weeks (3-months)."
The National CDC has said that in some rare cases, it may take up to six months for one to seroconvert (test positive). At this point the results would be 99.9% accurate.
When do you know for sure that you are not infected with HIV
The tests commonly used to determine HIV infection actually look for antibodies produced by the body to fight HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people will develop detectable antibodies within 3 months after infection. In rare cases, it can take up to six months. Therefore, the CDC recommends testing at 6 months after the last possible exposure. (unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or sharing injecting drug needles). It would be extremely rare to take longer than six months to develop detectable antibodies. It is important, during the six months between exposure and the 6-month test, to protect yourself and others from further exposures to HIV. The CDC National AIDS Hotline can provide more information and referrals to testing sites in your area
Where can you get tested for HIV infection
Many places provide testing for HIV infection. It is important to seek testing at a location that also provides counseling about HIV and AIDS. Common locations include local health departments, private physicians, hospitals, and test sites specifically set up for HIV testing.
In addition to traditional testing procedures, there are other options. For those who prefer not to have blood drawn, many sites now offer oral fluids testing, which involve testing of a sample of fluid taken from inside the mouth with a cotton swab. The OraSure Test is currently only available through a health care provider or clinic. Some clinics may also offer urine testing as an alternative to blood tests.
There is also testing which can be performed anonymously in the privacy of your own home. There are many home tests advertised through the internet, but only the Home Access Test has been approved by the FDA. The Home Access test kit can be found at most local pharmacies. The testing procedure involves pricking your finger with a special device, placing a drop of blood on a specially treated card, and then mailing the card in for testing. You are given an identification number to use when you phone in for the test results-- 3 days or 2 weeks later, depending on the test kit purchased.
The difference between an Anonymous and a Confidential Test
Anonymous and Confidential use the same testing method. The only difference is one does not have your name attached to the results.
Anonymous antibody testing is available at Anonymous Test Sites in most California counties. Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one has access to your test results since your name is never recorded at the test site.
Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care provider know your results, which may be recorded in your medical file.
What do test results mean?
A positive result means:
You are HIV-positive (carrying the virus that causes AIDS).
You can infect others and should try to implement precautions to prevent doing so.
A negative result means:
No antibodies were found in your blood at this time.
A negative result does NOT mean:
You are not infected with HIV (if you are still in the window period).
You are immune to AIDS.
You have a resistance to infection.
You will never get AIDS.
If I test positive, does that mean that I will die?
Testing positive for HIV means that you now carry the virus that causes AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS, nor does it mean that you will die. Although there is no cure for AIDS, many opportunistic infections that make people sick can be controlled, prevented or eliminated. This has substantially increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with AIDS.
Need for Medication
If HIV is allowed to reproduce, or "replicate," inside the body, it will cause damage to the immune system. Ultimately, the immune system becomes so weak that the body becomes vulnerable to other diseases. This is the point at which a person is usually diagnosed with full-blown AIDS, which can result in death due to other opportunistic infections like Tuberculosis, etc
Anti-HIV drugs can help HIV-infected people live longer. Treatment, therefore, is a very important option, and people living with HIV should consider starting treatment before the virus has had a chance to do serious damage to the immune system.
Sticking to therapy Ensure that the medication is taken at the right time, in the right doses and in the right way. It is an important factor in the success of anti-HIV treatments. The best response to anti-HIV drugs is seen in people who take every dose regularly. Further Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) have been found to increase the patient compliance as they reduce pill burden. Thus FDCs should be preferred especially for patients who have tendency to miss doses.
I'm HIV positive. Where can I go for information about treatments?
The CDC National AIDS Hotline can offer practical information on maintaining health and general information about a wide variety of treatments, including antiretroviral and prophylaxis for opportunistic infections.
ANTIRETROVIRAL AGENTS
There are currently 5 major classes of antiretroviral drugs :
Binding and Fusion inhibitors
Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analogue Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI)
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI)
Protease Inhibitors (PI)
Integrase Inhibitors (under research, not commercialized yet)
