Different Types of HIV Tests, Explained

Different Types of HIV Tests Available and Their Accuracy

An Overview of the Different Types of HIV Tests Available

HIV testing not only helps confirm your status, but also plays a key role in preventing the spread of the virus. Here’s what you need to know about the different HIV testing options and what to do after you receive your results.

There are several types of HIV tests available, each with its own advantages. Knowing your options can help you choose the test that’s right for you:

Antibody/Antigen Tests

This is the most common type of HIV test. It detects both HIV antibodies and antigens in your blood. Antibodies are proteins your body produces in response to an infection, while antigens are part of the virus itself.

This test can usually detect HIV within 18 to 45 days after exposure, making it a reliable option for early detection.

Rapid HIV Tests

As the name suggests, rapid tests provide results quickly – often within 30 minutes. These tests can be done with blood or oral fluid and are convenient for those who want quick answers.

While rapid tests are accurate, a positive result should be followed up with a more comprehensive test to confirm the diagnosis.

Home HIV Testing Kits

At-home HIV testing offers the privacy and convenience of testing at home. There are two types: a mail-in test, where you collect a sample and send it to a lab, and a rapid self-test, which gives you results in about 20 minutes.

Home tests are a good option for those who prefer not to visit a clinic, but it’s important to follow up with a healthcare provider if you receive a positive result.

Interpreting HIV Test Results

Once you’ve taken the test, understanding the results is the next step:

Negative HIV Result

A negative result means that no signs of HIV were found in your sample. However, if you were recently exposed to the virus, it’s important to remember that it can take time for HIV to be detectable.

If you think you were exposed within the last few weeks, consider getting tested again in a few months or consult your healthcare provider for advice.

Positive HIV Result

A positive test result indicates that HIV is present in your body. However, a positive result from a rapid test or home test should be confirmed with a follow-up test. Your healthcare provider and/or HIV Specialist will likely recommend an additional blood test to confirm the diagnosis.

It’s important not to panic. HIV is a manageable condition, and early treatment can significantly improve your health outcomes.

Indeterminate or Invalid Result

In rare cases, your test might return an indeterminate or invalid result, meaning the test didn’t provide a clear answer. If this happens, your healthcare provider will recommend retesting.

What to Do if You Test Positive for HIV

If you test positive for HIV, take prompt action. Acting fast will protect your health and reduce the risk of transmission to others.

And remember, with the right care and treatment plan, patients with HIV can live long, healthy lives.

Step #1: Start Treatment Immediately

Early treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) is vital. ART helps control the virus in your body, keeping your immune system strong and reducing the risk of transmitting the virus to others. Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an HIV treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Step #2: Notify Recent Partners

It’s important to inform any recent sexual partners or individuals with whom you’ve shared needles so they can get tested. This can be a difficult conversation, but it’s necessary for their health and safety. Your healthcare provider can offer guidance on how to approach this conversation and may also provide resources for partner notification services.

Step #3: Seek Support

Learning that you have HIV can be overwhelming. Don’t hesitate to seek support from healthcare providers, counselors, or support groups. Talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can help you navigate the emotional and practical aspects of living with HIV.

Step #4: Follow Up Regularly

Regular follow-up appointments with your primary healthcare provider are essential for monitoring your health and adjusting your treatment plan as needed. Staying on top of your health is the best way to ensure that HIV remains a manageable part of your life.

Prevention & Getting Tested for HIV in Atlanta

If you are at a higher risk of contracting HIV, it is important to know you do have highly-effective prevention methods such as using Condoms or taking PrEP or PEP medications to reduce your risk of contracting the virus.

If you are located in metro Atlanta and believe you’ve been exposed to HIV, contact Erin Everett, NP-C, AAHIVS, right away to schedule an appointment for HIV testing. Early detection and treatment are absolutely essential to manage the disease process, and to decrease the spread of the virus to others.

Remember, living with HIV doesn’t have to diminish your quality of life. Proper HIV treatment and regular check-ins with your healthcare provider can greatly improve your outcome, letting you live a normal, happy life for years to come.

Introducing the Exclusively Inclusive Podcast!

I am BEYOND excited to announce the launching of my brand new podcast, Exclusively Inclusive!

As a life-long Ally of the LGBTQ+ community, and after having the privilege of providing high quality, judgment-free healthcare for this population for the last several years, I wanted to take make a bigger impact.

By launching the Exclusively Inclusive podcast, I hope to provide the most up-to-date information on healthcare issues impacting the community for listeners beyond the metro Atlanta area. It is my personal goal to reach listeners across America and the world who might struggling with access to care and to arm them with the knowledge to help advocate for themselves throughout their healthcare journeys.

The primary topics I will cover on the podcast include healthcare issues surrounding:

  • Transgender Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
  • General Primary Care
  • HIV Prevention & Treatment
  • Gender Dysphoria
  • Transgender Surgeries
  • Cost of Healthcare & Insurance
  • Sexual Health

The podcast will feature not just myself, but also local/national experts in healthcare specialties such as:

Again, I can’t tell you how excited I am to launch this podcast, and I hope you’ll give it a listen. I’d also love to hear your feedback on the show, and any questions you might have that I could potentially answer during a segment.

Follow the Podcast!

Website: https://exclusivelyinclusivepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/InclusiveCast

Instagram: https://instagram.com/exclusivelyinclusivepodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExclusivelyInclusive

Sexual Health: The Missing Link in Primary Care

Health promotion and disease prevention are hot topics in primary care these days. With changes in healthcare, employers are being rewarded for keeping their employees low risk for chronic illness. Incentives include discounts for non-tobacco users and deposits into the health savings account for having low cholesterol, A1C, and regular Blood Pressure checks to reduce Hypertension.

Healthcare incentives are a great way to encourage a healthier lifestyle, and hopefully over time statistics will show they work to reduce healthcare costs long term. However, I believe these measures omit an incredibly important aspect of a person’s overall health. Too often people overlook sexual health when discussing health promotion and risk reduction.

With Atlanta having one of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses and other STI transmissions it is imperative we include sexual health in the overall discussion in primary care.

Promoting HIV Prevention with PrEP

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily oral prescription medication (Truvada) used for the prevention of HIV infection. Commercial healthcare insurance providers cover PrEP, and many state funded programs are available to improve access to PrEP. However, many primary care providers have little information on what PrEP is, or think it is just for men who have sex with men. Arming providers with the information they need to prescribe and manage PrEP will allow patients greater access to HIV prevention.

Having conversations about sexual health with your patient may uncover concerns about HIV prevention and also other potential sexual health risk factors. With the rise of antibiotic resistance, it is important to emphasize all STI prevention along with HIV. PrEP advocates also promote barrier methods of STI prevention. It’s important for patients to know they have options.

Be Open with Your Primary Care Provider

Primary care providers, talk to your patients about their sexual health. Ask who they are sleeping with and what kind of behaviors they are engaging in, because preventing HIV and STIs is as important as reducing the risk of coronary artery disease.

Patients, if your primary care provider is not having these discussions with you then bring it up during your next visit. If you do not feel comfortable having these discussions with your provider, it may be time to seek out a new one, because understanding the whole picture of your health is critically important.

If you know anyone who is interested in starting on PrEP for HIV prevention, or wants to know more, feel free to contact me.