About HIV Testing

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50,000 Americans each year are diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Of the more than 1 million people thought to be living with AIDS, 1 in 5 isn't aware he or she is carrying the virus. Therefore, HIV testing is a critical step in the diagnosis and treatment of this global epidemic.

Who Should Be Tested for HIV

• In recent years, the federal government, along with foundations dedicated to AIDS research, has launched a series of campaigns designed to stress the importance for all adults to know their HIV status through yearly testing. Ideally, if you have had unprotected sex, you should get tested as soon as possible.

  However, certain parts of the population are more at risk and therefore should be tested more frequently. If you are an IV drug user, have recently been diagnosed with tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted disease, or if you are a man who has sex with other men, you should be tested monthly.

Common Testing

• The traditional HIV test is a simple blood test. A small amount of blood is taken from the vein to look for antibodies. The immune system creates antibodies when the HIV virus enters the body. If infected, antibodies typically appear within two to eight weeks from exposure. Other less common tests may use saliva or urine.

  If the test is positive, a second test will be given, called the Western Blot test. This checks the blood for the presence of HIV proteins. Both tests are used to avoid a false positive reading.

  Test results are usually available within a week. It can take up to six months for the virus to appear in the body, so even if the first test is negative, additional tests may be recommended.

Advanced Testing

• Fear of an unknown diagnosis causes many people to look for faster, more accurate HIV tests. RNA tests, or Polymerase Chain Reaction tests (PCR), measure the amount of the virus found in the blood within 10 days of exposure. However, these tests are not as widely available and can be expensive.

  Before the immune system begins releasing antibodies, P24 proteins may be found in the blood, indicating a positive test result for HIV.

Protecting Your Privacy During Testing

• The stress of HIV testing is often aggravated by concerns over privacy and confidentiality during testing. Fortunately, steps have been taken to ensure privacy for patients during the testing process.

  Frequently, clinics will offer anonymous testing to its patients. Patients are assigned a code or a number assigned to their test results. Once the test results are processed, the patient can call in anonymously, type in the correct code and get the results.

  The federal government requires all health care providers to abide by the rules of HIPAA, the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This law requires providers to abide by strict rules and regulations regarding a patient's diagnosis to ensure privacy. For further confidentiality, the FDA has approved one at-home test. The Home Access HIV Test allowed patients to collect their blood sample and mail it to a qualified laboratory. Patients can then elect to call or receive test results with their anonymous code.

Testing Negative

• The news comes back and you've tested negative. However, there are still steps you must take. A negative result may not signify the absence of HIV antibodies. If you know you have been exposed, you should plan on re-testing for up to six months. It can take that long for HIV antibodies to appear in the body. If you are at high-risk (IV drug user, unprotected sex, multiple partners), you should continue to get tested regularly.

Testing Positive

• A positive HIV test can be devastating, but it doesn't have to be. A positive reading doesn't automatically mean you will develop AIDS. However, medical experts advise taking certain steps once you have tested positive.

  Find a qualified physician or clinic that can help with your disease. Early diagnosis, treatment and adjusting your lifestyle can help you avoid AIDS. Have a TB test, as well as tests for any sexually transmitted disease as these can further weaken your immune system. Give up habits that may adversely affect your health, such as smoking, drinking excessively, using drugs or any other unhealthy habits.