Answer: Many places provide HIV testing. Common testing locations include offices of private doctors, hospitals, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and sites specifically set up to provide HIV antibody testing.

Do all clinics and private physicians offer pre and post-test counseling?

Answer: Although it is not mandatory, ethical practice demands the provision of appropriate counseling both before and after clients take the HIV test. Individuals may want to check with the clinic or physician before taking the tests. It is, however, important to seek testing at a place that provides counseling about HIV and AIDS.

Counselors can answer any questions about risky behavior and protection of self and others. In addition, they can help individuals understand the meaning of the test results and refer them to available AIDS-related resources in their locality.

What is informed consent?

Answer: Informed consent, in the context of HIV antibody testing, is legally defined to require practitioners to disclose to clients both the risks and the benefits of the HIV test, and the alternatives to the test. It is also to ensure that clients demonstrate the mental capacity to understand this information and freely agree, without coercion, to have the test performed.

Can I be tested for HIV without my consent?

Answer: Nobody should be tested for HIV without consent, except with some exceptions.

What is an anonymous test?

Answer: An anonymous test means that absolutely no one has access to your test result since your name is never associated with the test or the test results. In anonymous settings, the client is expected to give informed consent, but to protect anonymity, the consent is not written. Anonymous sites never give written results.

Anonymous test sites are highly recommended because:

The quality of the education and counseling is very good.
The testing is usually free.

It protects you from risks of discrimination or adverse impact, especially in applications for insurance. Sometimes even taking an HIV test, regardless of the result, might cause an insurance application to be rejected.

What is confidential testing?

Answer: Confidential antibody testing means that you and the health care provider know your result and that it may also be recorded in your medical record.

In addition, you pay directly or use insurance to pay for an HIV test, the result (and even the fact that the test was ordered) will be available to insurance companies through computer networks. However, some physicians may agree to omit the test results from the medical record. In confidential settings, the client must give written informed consent.

What are rapid HIV tests?

Answer: A rapid test for detecting antibodies for HIV is a screening test that produces very quick results, usually in 5 to 30 minutes. In comparison, results from the commonly used HIV antibody screening test, the EIA (enzyme immunoassay), are not available for 1-2 weeks.

Although rapid HIV test is considered to be just as accurate as EIA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has licensed only one such procedure for use in the United States. Also, the availability of rapid HIV test may differ from one place to another.

What is OraSure HIV test?

Answer: OraSure is a test for antibodies found in mucosal transudate, which can be found in saliva. However, it is not a saliva test. OraSure uses a technology that draws mucosal transudate, containing antibodies and not virus, from the blood stream through cheek and gum tissues and then onto a specially treated collection pad.

(Note: the saliva and oral mucus contain antibodies to HIV itself, so HIV is not transmitted through these fluids.)

The cotton collection pad is placed between the cheek and lower gum for two minutes. The sample is sent to a lab, where it undergoes an ELISA procedure. All positive ELISA samples undergo a Western Blot confirmatory test. The combined accuracy of OraSure ELISA and Western Blot procedures is comparable to traditional blood testing.

What is the difference between OraSure and the blood test?

Answer: OraSure is for use in persons 13 years and older, and testing is done by placing cotton pads in the mouth to collect test specimens. On the other hand, blood testing can be done on persons of any age, and requires that a needle is inserted into a vein to collect blood into a tube for testing.

While both tests require special training, more people will be able to administer OraSure test than the blood test. With OraSure there are no sharp needles to use or dispose of. It is also not necessary to puncture a vein when using OraSure. Overall, OraSure appears safer to use.

What does a negative HIV test mean?

Answer: A negative HIV test means that HIV antibodies have not been found in your blood at this time; you are probably not infected or you are in the window period.

However, a negative test result does not mean:

You are not infected with HIV (you may still be in the "window period").
You are immune to AIDS.
You have a resistance to infection.
You will never gets AIDS.

What is the window period?

Answer: The window period is the time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to develop antibodies. The CDC definition of three to six month window period has been commonly used for a number of years and is most often used. For most individuals, antibodies will develop after three months; however, this is not true for everyone.

If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my partner is also HIV negative?

Answer: No. Your HIV test result reveals only your HIV status. Your negative test result does not tell you whether your partner has HIV. HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time there is an exposure. Therefore, your taking an HIV test should not be seen as a method to find out if your partner is infected. Testing should never take the place of protecting yourself from HIV infection.

What does a positive HIV test mean?

Answer: A positive test result means that you have HIV antibodies and you may have been infected with the virus at some point in time.

People with a positive result should assume that they have the virus and could infect others, or become re-infected. They should not donate blood, organs, tissue, and must stop breastfeeding. They must practice safer behaviors and inform sex and/or needle sharing partners about their status.

A positive test result does not mean:

You have AIDS.
You will necessarily get AIDS.
You are immune to AIDS, even though you have antibodies.

What is an indeterminate result?

Answer: Indeterminate result (which is rare) means the Western Blot is neither negative nor positive. This may be due to a number of factors, which have nothing to do with HIV infection, or it can occur early in the infection when there are not enough of the HIV antibodies present to give a positive test result. If this happens, it is recommended to re-test following 3-6 months.

Why should I test for HIV?

Answer: Benefits of testing for HIV include:

If you know you are HIV-positive, you can take advantage of immune system monitoring and early treatment and intervention.
By taking the test, you can find out whether or not you can infect others.
Regardless of the result, testing often increases your commitment to overall good health habits.
If you test negative, you may feel less anxious after testing.
Women and their partners considering pregnancy can take advantage of treatments that potentially prevent transmission of HIV to the baby.
Counseling can provide a critical opportunity to assist you in identifying your risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
Counseling also provides an opportunity to negotiate and reinforce a plan to reduce or eliminate the risk.

What are the risks of testing for HIV?

Answer: Risk of testing for HIV includes the following:

Taking the HIV antibody test is a stressful event, regardless of the results.
Disclosures of an antibody test result, or sometimes the disclosure that a person even took the test, may lead to discrimination, denial of health coverage, stigmatization and violence.

If I am HIV positive, where can I get information about treatments?

Answer: It is recommended that you be in the care of a doctor or medical service, ideally one with experience treating people living with HIV. Your doctor can provide information and guidance.

Getting tested

While some routine medical visits may include a sexual health interview and examination, testing for HIV and most STDs requires specific tests and cannot be done without your consent or cooperation. Most tests involve collecting samples from the urethra, cervix, anus or throat with a swab, or testing a urine or blood sample. Many STDs occur without any signs or symptoms. If you are sexually active, see a health care provider regularly and ask to be tested for HIV and STDs.

How do HIV tests work?

Once HIV enters the body, the immune system starts to produce antibodies - (chemicals that are part of the immune system that recognize invaders like bacteria and viruses and mobilize the body's attempt to fight infection). In the case of HIV, these antibodies cannot fight off the infection, but their presence is used to tell whether a person has HIV in his or her body. In other words, most HIV tests look for the HIV antibodies rather than looking for HIV itself. There are tests that look for HIV's genetic material directly, but these are not in widespread use.

The most common HIV tests use blood to detect HIV infection. Tests using saliva or urine are also available. Some tests take a few days for results, but rapid HIV tests can give results in about 20 minutes. All positive HIV tests must be followed up by another test to confirm the positive result. Results of this confirmatory test can take a few days to a few weeks.

What are the different HIV screening tests available in the United States?

In most cases the EIA (enzyme immunoassay), used on blood drawn from a vein, is the most common screening test used to look for antibodies to HIV. A positive (reactive) EIA must be used with a follow-up (confirmatory) test such as the Western blot to make a positive diagnosis. There are EIA tests that use other body fluids to look for antibodies to HIV. These include

Oral Fluid Tests - use oral fluid (not saliva) that is collected from the mouth using a special collection device. This is an EIA antibody test similar to the standard blood EIA test. A follow-up confirmatory Western blot uses the same oral fluid sample.
Urine Tests - use urine instead of blood. The sensitivity and specificity (accuracy) are somewhat less than that of the blood and oral fluid tests. This is also an EIA antibody test similar to blood EIA tests and requires a follow-up confirmatory Western blot using the same urine sample.

Rapid Tests

A rapid test is a screening test that produces very quick results, in approximately 20 minutes. Rapid tests use blood from a vein or from a finger stick, or oral fluid, to look for the presence of antibodies to HIV. As is true for all screening tests, a reactive rapid HIV test result must be confirmed with a follow-up confirmatory test before a final diagnosis of infection can be made. These tests have similar accuracy rates as traditional EIA screening tests.

Home Testing Kits

Consumer-controlled test kits (popularly known as "home testing kits") were first licensed in 1997. Although home HIV tests are sometimes advertised through the Internet, currently only the Home Access HIV-1 Test System is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. (The accuracy of other home test kits cannot be verified.) The Home Access HIV-1 Test System can be found at most local drug stores. It is not a true home test, but a home collection kit. The testing procedure involves pricking a finger with a special device, placing drops of blood on a specially treated card, and then mailing the card in to be tested at a licensed laboratory. Customers are given an identification number to use when phoning in for the results. Callers may speak to a counselor before taking the test, while waiting for the test result, and when the results are given. All individuals receiving a positive test result are provided referrals for a follow-up confirmatory test, as well as information and resources on treatment and support services.

RNA Tests

RNA tests look for genetic material of the virus and can be used in screening the blood supply and for detection of rare very early infection cases when antibody tests are unable to detect antibodies to HIV.

For a list of HIV tests that are FDA-approved, visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.

AIDS test or much known as AIDS serology tests are composed of various kinds of tests in order to determine the presence of human immunodeficiency virus in the blood serum as well as the effects of the HIV in the body�s immune system.

Precautions Prior the AIDS Test

In some states in the U.S, a signed waver should be completely filled up in order to administer the AIDS test.

And healthcare professional who will do the exam should always wear latex gloves to protect them when they pricked the possible patient. It is important that the healthcare professional should avoid getting pricked when they are doing blood test to an individual.

Diagnostic Tests

1. ELISA or ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY

This blood test is used to screen blood that is used for blood transfusions. This blood test is also used to diagnose patients with HIV/AIDS.

The latest generation of ELISA diagnostic tests is ninety nine percent sensitive to HIV virus but it is important that another round of test is done along with Western blot test to confirm the presence of AIDS.

2. WESTERN BLOT or IMMUNOBLOT

The immunoblot test or much commonly known as Western blot is used to confirm the presence of AIDS as detected by the ELISA diagnostic test.

Generally, Western blot is used in combination with ELISA and the blot testing is usually more accurate than ELISA but there are some cases that it gives negative results for cases that are on early stage of HIV thus like other tests, it is also recommended that you repeat your test again six months later.

3. IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY (IFA)

Aside from western blot, the IFA or immunofluorescence assay is used to confirm the presence of AIDS. This test uses the patient�s serum to determine the presence of HIV in the body.

4. POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR)

Polymerase Chain Reaction is use determine the presence of AIDS in patients who do not show any symptoms but unknown to them they are already infected and already HIV carriers.

Prognostic tests

After the diagnostic is done, prognostic test are done for patients who have been diagnosed positively with HIV.

AIDS is known to have latency period, there are infected individuals who are infected with HIV for several years and it takes them more less ten years to develop symptoms of AIDS.

1. BLOOD CELL COUNTS

Blood cell count is very important to determine the progress of AIDS in the body. It is also done to see how the body is reacting to the medications given by the doctor.

2. ORAL HIV TESTS

The Oral HIV test is developed by scientists to determine the presence of HIV through the saliva. This is an excellent alternative to blood sample tests.

AIDS test or sometimes referred also as AIDS serology test are made up of different kinds of blood test to test the presence of human immunodeficiency virus in the blood serum.

This test is also done to know how the HIV virus progresses in the body.

Things to Observe Prior the AIDS Serology Test

1. Sign up a waver � the patient should completely fill up and sign the waver before AIDS serology test can be made.

2. Wear protection � The health care professional who will do the exam should wear latex gloves to protect them when they get the blood test of the patient. And as part of the procedure, the medical health worker should avoid getting pricked when he or she is administering the blood test.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

The most common diagnostic tests that are made to know the presence of HIV/AIDS is the ELISA Test, Western Blot, the Immunofluorescence assay(IFA), and the Polymerase Chain Reaction or the PCR.

ELISA or Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay is a blood test that is used to screen blood that will be used for transfusions. This test is also one effective way to determine the presence of HIV and AIDS.

At present, ELISA test has 90% sensitivity to the presence of HIV and AIDS but after going to ELISA test, it is recommended that the individual goes another round of ELISA test and this time with Western blot to thoroughly confirm AIDS.

Meanwhile, another diagnostic test done to determine AIDS is the Western blot or Immunoblot.

Western blot is usually done after the ELISA test shows positive results of AIDS virus. Commonly, western blot is done along with ELISA but the blot testing is considered more accurate than ELISA though there are some instances that Western blot also yield negative results and this usually takes place when the virus is just in early stage.

It is always recommended that you take another round of the Western blot test after six months to make sure that the previous results are really accurate.

Another test that is done is the Immunofluorescence assay or the IFA. For this test, a patient�s serum is taken and tested to know the presence of HIV in the body.

The fourth test that can be done is Polymerase Chain Reaction or the PCR. This AIDS test is given to suspected patients who do not exhibit any symptoms but they don�t know that they are already HIV or AIDS positive.

PROGNOSTIC Test

Prognostic tests are done after the results of diagnostic results shows positive results for the presence of HIV.

AIDS has a latency period, to which the HIV infected person still has several years to develop symptoms of AIDS.

Some of the prognostic tests are blood cell counts and the Oral HIV test.

Blood cell counts are used to determine the progression of AIDS in the infected person. It is also done to know how the body�s immune system is reacting to various AIDS medications.

Oral HIV Test is an alternative test given instead of blood testing. This is given to HIV positive to know if the disease had progressed to AIDS.

Understanding AIDS Test Recommended Resources:

Yale School of Public Health

Stanford News Service