Anonymous testing for HIV

Anonymous testing for HIV pretest counselling

First of all, one should decide and choose the place where you can take a blood test for HIV. After selecting the appropriate item where to be tested for HIV, he goes to counseling.

Protestowa consultation takes place with the person who decide to do testing for HIV and AIDS, and consists of several issues associated with risk, which carries the virus that causes immunodeficiency.

People who are going to take the tests, pass the interview with the consultant to clarify the motivation that prompted him to donate blood and complete a study on HIV and on risk assessments and tips on how to reduce risk in the future, to determine the reliability of the findings (negative for HIV). In some cases (usually failure to use a sufficient interval from the last risk situation) it would be correct to wait and be tested for HIV infection later. You will then receive a ticket with a number which will give this result. In particular, made rapid – rapid HIV test can show incorrect results.

After the conversation, the person gets your number, which is used to retrieve HIV test results. This room should be retained for the future, because if you need to re-do the analysis on a HIV to donate blood, a person must be registered under the same number, other identifying information, if the test is anonymous, no.

HIV antibody 1, 2

For standard antibody blood was taken for HIV from Vienna. Basic lab test is based on an indirect confirmation of HIV infection — presence of antibodies. To do this, use a test called ELISA. This means that in the blood of the patient is not directly determined by the HIV virus, but antibodies to protect against virus created by the body. Thus, HIV infection is not displayed immediately after infection. Antibodies begin to form after 2-3 weeks after the entry of the virus into the body. The levels of antibody are sufficient for the detection is created, up to 3 months. In this case we are talking about the so-called "infectious window" during which the tests impractical.

Analysis of AIDS and HIV – the study of antigen P24

HIV can be directly demonstrated by the detection of P24 antigen (a protein that is part of the viral capsid) or by demonstration of viral RNA (ribonucleic acid) PCR (polymerase chain reaction), which in terms of detecting the virus is more effective than the ELISA method.

To take the examination for the presence of P24 made in the case of the need to identify early infections (before the formation of antibodies). PCR tests are used for testing of newborns from HIV-positive mothers and the following monitoring disease progression and efficacy of antiviral therapy.

PCR testing is not suitable diagnostic test to rule out infection.

HIV test time rapid and home tests

Rapid tests (which can often also be called rapid tests) detect antibodies (sometimes P24 antigen) of capillary blood, and the result is known within a short time (about several tens of minutes). Despite advertising that encourages home testing for HIV, rapid tests are not intended for self-testing. The test is designed for the medical examination is to the user.

Only specialists or trained medical personnel able to properly evaluate the suitability test, the results and recommend appropriate next steps.

If the analysis is carried out by the layman, he should evaluate his results only as a guide, for further treatment to the doctor. When you subtract a positive (more correctly – reactive) result, you should always seek the assistance of a device that performs laboratory testing for HIV, because the result needs to be confirmed or excluded confirmatory test. Irritantexpectations of the final result to avoid fail…

The disadvantage of a home test is also the lack of expert advice that, in this case, can be a problem. The risk of errors (for example, proper subtraction) when you run the test a layman is much higher than in the tests at a specialized facility.

People who for a long time used antiretroviral drugs, rapid tests can show false negative results.

Why and how to be tested for saliva tests

We are talking about the detection of antibodies in saliva. Unlike blood tests, these tests demonstrate the antigen P24, it is necessary to consider at least a 3-month immunological window. The advantage of the test is that it stresses the need to respect hygienic conditions, therefore, can be performed outside a medical institution, and the result becomes available for a short time, as in the case of rapid tests.

The disadvantage is that in the case of reactivity, blood sampling and unpleasant expectations of the final result can not be avoided.

Tests and blood testing for HIV results

A negative HIV test result

A negative HIV test result means that a person is not HIV-positive, but only if the analysis was conducted at the end of 2 months after the last risky event.

A negative result does not mean that people cannot be infected in the future.

The announcement of a negative result must be accompanied by behaviour change (prevention of risky behaviour in the future).

A negative result does not mean that is healthy and your sexual partner.

HIV infection can be transmitted even with just one unprotected act of intercourse.

Sometimes couples have unprotected sex for several years, but transmission from an HIV-positive partner to another does not occur.

A positive HIV test result

A positive result indicates HIV infection. AIDS is the last stage of HIV infection, which is characterized by a significant deterioration of immunity and the presence of so-called opportunistic infections and tumors.

The diagnosis of AIDS can only set the doctor on the basis of a clinical examination.

If the infection is diagnosed in a timely manner, with appropriate monitoring and treatment there is a great chance to the development of AIDS will not come at all.

The person who test positive for HIV are given a detailed explanation of his diagnosis, as well as the obligation to behave in such a way as not to endanger (risk of infection) to others. HIV-positive people should undergo regular control examinations in AIDS centers and take antiviral drugs if they are recommended.

In HIV-infected pregnant women entered treatment, which may reduce the risk of transmission to the fetus.

A positive result does not automatically imply the positivity of all sexual partners with whom the person had unprotected sex. However, it is recommended that a survey aimed at timely diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment, which will help avoid health complications.

Unclear result: HIV +/-?

Unclear test result for HIV is rare. It could indicate a fresh infection of HIV, incorrectly pronounced immune response, but a more frequent cause is broader, non-specific immune reactivity (which may be determined genetically).

The test should be repeated (sometimes more times than one), the person is recommended to undergo additional medical tests (to identify causes).

Reactive result

Reactive result rapid test does not mean that the person is infected with HIV.

Mobile clinics offering rapid test for the presence of an infection, you can meet with the reactive result, which can scare people. A reactive result is not the same as positive. The rapid test reacts not only to HIV infection, and therefore a reactive result can occur in people not infected with a terrible virus.

The good news is that in most cases, the confirmatory tests that follow a reactive test shows a negative result, this means that the person is not infected.