How to Detect HIV?

HIV is a virus that is transmitted through semen, vaginal fluids, and blood. It spreads in specific ways that can be avoided easily, such as accidental blood pressure, sexual contact, during pregnancy, and sharing needle used by infected persons. It is essential to test HIV as the infected person takes precautions and help to prevent the spread of the virus.

Diagnosing HIV

Taking HIV test is essential for the individuals who are at higher risk of infection such as

• Injecting drug users
• Individuals who exchange sex for the sake of money
• Individuals engaging in high-risk sex like sex with multiple partners or sex without condoms
• Bisexual men

HIV detection can be done by indirect as well as the direct method. The indirect method detects the proteins known as antibodies that the immune system produces in response to the virus. Whereas the direct testing method detects either RNA (genetic material of virus) or antigens (a protein on virus surface). There are some testing options that vary as per the accuracy, ease of use and speed.

• Home Collection Kits – It is an antibody test in which the individual needs to pour a drop of blood in the test card and send it to the lab through express mail. The result can be received either through phone or online within one business day after sample delivery.
• NAT ( Nucleic Acid Tests) – It is a blood-based test that detects the RNA. It is an expensive way of detecting HIV. However, it detects the virus earlier than other forms. It is also used to screen newborns or test the donated blood suspected of having HIV. The results of this test are returned within a few days.
• Standard Point-of-Care Tests – These are lab-based tests that detect the antibodies only. For this test, the blood is drawn from the body of the suspected individual. The results of the tests are received within a week.
• Rapid at-Home Tests – These are the home test kits that you can purchase online. All that you need to do is pour the drop of human stick blood. The test kit would yield the results in around 20 minutes.

Apart from this, you can detect HIV by using the sample of urine or an oral swab from the gums through rapid point-of-care tests.