HIV Testing: Types, How Often, What To Expect & Results

What is an HIV test?

An HIV test shows whether you have thehuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that attacks your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infections. In some &#; but not all &#;cases, HIV can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which can be life-threatening.

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Getting tested for HIV is important because the sooner you know about an infection, the sooner you can receive treatment. Current treatments for HIV can strengthen your immune system to fend off the virus more effectively. Early treatment can prevent you from developing AIDS.

Current HIV tests are highly effective at detecting HIV. Current protocols for HIV testing reliably lead to an accurate diagnosis.

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What are the three tests for HIV?

To diagnose HIV, your healthcare provider can order any of three types of tests. Depending on the test, you&#;ll provide a blood sample (from a vein or a finger prick) or an oral fluid sample that can be tested for HIV. Oral fluid contains cells from your mouth. It&#;s different from saliva.

• Nucleic acid (NAT) test: The NAT test can detect HIV RNA, the genetic material in HIV. The test can also tell how much of the virus is in your blood (viral load). The NAT is a thorough lab test requiring a blood draw (a healthcare provider draws blood from a vein). It can be expensive.
• Antigen/antibody test: Combination antigen/antibody tests check for signs of the virus instead of the virus itself, as with the NAT test. First, it tests for antigens. An antigen is a substance that activates your immune system to fight HIV. If you have HIV, antigen p24 will be in your blood. The test also checks for HIV antibodies. Your immune system makes HIV antibodies to fight off the virus. Antigens show up in your blood before antibodies do.
• Antibody tests: This test checks for HIV antibodies.

Since a NAT test is more expensive, you&#;ll rarely take this test to screen for HIV unless you have symptoms. If you&#;re HIV-positive, your healthcare provider may order a NAT test to check your viral load, or how much of the virus is in your blood.

To screen for HIV, you&#;ll likely take an antibody test or a combination antigen/antibody test first. You&#;ll need follow-up testing if your results are positive to confirm the results.

When would an HIV test be needed?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on HIV recommends that everyone between ages 15 to 65 take an HIV test at least once in their lifetimes. HIV doesn&#;t always cause symptoms in its early stages. An HIV test may be the only way to detect the virus and potentially prevent spreading it to others.

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You should also get tested if you&#;re high-risk for HIV exposure or if you&#;re pregnant.

HIV testing for high-risk groups

HIV gets transmitted through body fluids exchanged during sex and through blood. You&#;re considered high-risk if it&#;s likely that you&#;ve been exposed to these fluids from a person who has HIV. Having unprotected sex (without a condom or dental dam) with an HIV-positive partner greatly increases your risk of HIV.

You may need regular HIV tests if:

• You have vaginal, anal or oral sex with an HIV-positive partner or a partner whose HIV status you don&#;t know.
• You have sex with more than one partner or your partners have sex with more than one partner.
• You&#;re a person with a penis who has sex with other people with penises (men who have sex with men, or MSM).
• You have a sexually transmitted infection other than HIV (Having an STI can make you more susceptible to contracting HIV).
• You share needles to inject drugs.

Getting tested regularly may mean that you take a test once a year or even more frequently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that men who have sex with men get tested every three to six months. Ask your healthcare provider about how often you should get tested.

You should also get tested if you&#;re sexually assaulted. In these instances, contact a healthcare provider to get started on HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP is a series of medicines that can prevent HIV. You have to begin taking them within 72 hours of a possible exposure for them to work.

HIV testing during pregnancy

An HIV test is recommended during pregnancy and preferably given during the first trimester of pregnancysince HIV can be passed between mother, or gestational parent, and fetus. HIV can also be passed through breast (chest) milk. Receiving treatment early in pregnancy can prevent you from transmitting the virus to your newborn.

If you&#;re pregnant and considered high risk for contracting HIV, you should be retested at least two to three times during pregnancy.

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Where can I get an HIV test?

You have many options for testing sites (including your own home).

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• You can get tested in your healthcare provider&#;s office, a clinic or a community health center.
• The CDC allows you to type your address into a search bar and locate testing sites for HIV and other STIs. Many of these sites offer free testing.
• You can search STI testing locations using the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator.
• You can purchase an at-home HIV test kit in stores or online if you&#;re 17 or older. Currently, OraQuick® In-Home HIV Test is the only FDA-approved at-home HIV test on the market.