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Is HIV Testing Safe?

Being infected with HIV is a scary prospect. Testing procedures are not dangerous at all, but if you don't know what to expect, the process of being tested can be just as scary as waiting for the results.

  1. Enzyme Immunassay Tests

    • Otherwise known as an EIA, this is the usual manner of testing for HIV. The patient will need to provide a blood or urine sample, but will not be required to have contact with any other substances. EIA calls for exposing the provided sample to inactive HIV antigens in a laboratory. If the person being tested is HIV positive, their blood sample will react to the HIV antigens.

    Blood Tests

    • Blood samples are taken via syringe and sent to the lab for an EIA test. The patient is not required to have contact with blood, chemicals or other substances.

    Oral Fluid Tests

    • This test is a mouth swab and only takes a few seconds. The medical technician will wipe the patient's gums with a cotton swab, then seal it in a sterile container so it can be sent to the lab for an EIA test.

    Urine Tests

    • Though urine is a little less accurate than blood, this test is performed exactly like the other two. The patient urinates in a cup, and the cup is taken to the lab for an EIA test.

    Rapid Tests

    • There is something called a rapid test which can be performed in about 20 minutes. This test requires a blood, oral or urine sample exactly like the other tests. However, an EIA will still be performed to confirm any results from a rapid test.

    Home Testing Kits

    • The Centers for Disease Control points out there is one FDA-approved home testing kit for HIV. The "Home Access HIV-1 Test System" is actually just a sample-collection kit; after pricking your finger and placing some blood on a special card, you mail the card to a laboratory to get the results. You will be assigned a number so you can call for your results when they are ready.

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