Hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus infectionĬurrently, there's no cure for HIV/ AIDS.Your health care provider might also order lab tests to check for other infections or complications, including: This test helps your health care provider determine if your specific form of the virus has resistance and guides treatment decisions. Some strains of HIV are resistant to medications. This significantly reduces your chances of opportunistic infection and other HIV-related complications. After starting HIV treatment, the goal is to have an undetectable viral load. This test measures the amount of virus in your blood. Even if you have no symptoms, HIV infection progresses to AIDS when your CD4 T cell count dips below 200. CD4 T cells are white blood cells that are specifically targeted and destroyed by HIV. If you receive a diagnosis of HIV/ AIDS, several tests can help your health care provider determine the stage of your disease and the best treatment, including: Monitor your progress and work with you to manage your health.Determine which HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) will be best for you.Determine whether you need additional testing.If you've been diagnosed with HIV, it's important to find a specialist trained in diagnosing and treating HIV to help you: If any of these tests are negative, you may still need a follow-up test weeks to months later to confirm the results. Talk to your health care provider about which HIV test is right for you. NAT will be the first test to become positive after exposure to HIV. If you might have been exposed to HIV within the past few weeks, your health care provider may recommend NAT. They also involve blood drawn from a vein. These tests look for the actual virus in your blood (viral load). Antibody tests can take 3 to 12 weeks after you're exposed to become positive. Most rapid HIV tests, including self-tests done at home, are antibody tests. These tests look for antibodies to HIV in blood or saliva. The combination antigen/antibody tests can take 2 to 6 weeks after exposure to become positive. It can take weeks to months for antibodies to become detectable. For additional information visit Linking to and Using Content from MedlinePlus.Antibodies are produced by your immune system when it's exposed to HIV. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited without authorization. Links to other sites are provided for information only - they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy editorial process and privacy policy. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. Tell the difference between the 2 types of virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2Ī.D.A.M., Inc.Detect antibodies more accurately than screening tests.It is usually done when the screening test is positive. This test can detect the virus as early as 3 weeks after getting infected.Ī follow-up test is also called a confirmatory test. This test is usually not used by itself to screen for HIV infection.Īn antibody-antigen blood test checks for levels of both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen. The p24 antigen test is accurate 11 days to 1 month after getting infected. When you're first infected with HIV, and before your body has a chance to make antibodies to the virus, your blood has a high level of p24. This test is also less accurate than the blood test.Īn antigen test checks your blood for an HIV antigen, called p24. Urine - This test checks for antibodies in the urine.This test is less accurate than the blood test. It is done by swabbing the gums and inside cheeks. Oral fluid - This test checks for antibodies in the cells of the mouth.A blood test is the most accurate because blood has a higher level of antibodies than other body fluids. Blood - This test is done by drawing blood from a vein, or by a finger prick.
These tests can detect antibodies starting a few weeks after you're infected with the virus. Or, you may have it done at a testing center or use a home kit. Your health care provider may order the test for you to have done at a lab. The most common tests are described below.Īn antibody test (also called immunoassay) checks for antibodies to the HIV virus. These are tests that check if you've been infected with HIV.
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