Dr Destiny
Testing is an essential component of HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment. Because people in the early stages of HIV/AIDS may be asymptomatic, they may be putting others at risk. While those with HIV/AIDS need multiple tests to accurately assess their physical condition, some tests are specific to HIV/AIDS:
HIV antibody CD4 t-cell Viral load
· HIV Antibody tests
The period between becoming infected and showing antibodies to HIV in the blood can range from 2 weeks to 6 months. During this period, a person can spread the disease even though the antibodies cannot be detected in the blood. The most common tests in recent years have been ELISA, Western Blot and IFA.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
· Usually the first test used to detect infection with HIV, but can cause false positive results
Western blot.
· More difficult than the ELISA to perform and interpret accurately, but less likely to give a false-positives; used to confirm ELISA results.
Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA)
· Detects antibodies made to fight an HIV infection; used to confirm ELISA results.
New rapid HIV tests are now on the market, that are quick, easy to do, and allow for point-of-care testing. There are 4 rapid HIV tests that have been approved:
· OraQuick Advance HIV-1/2 - results in 20 minutes
· Uni-Gold Recombigen - results in 10 minutes
· Reveal G2 - results in 5 minutes
· Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 - results in 15 minutes
Viral load
The viral load indicates the number of copies of HIV in the blood. A non-detectable result does not mean that there is no virus present; just that it was not detected. The newer versions of tests can now detect a load as low as 5 and as high as 1.5 million. A level of 55,000 requires antiretroviral treatment. Antiretroviral treatment is considered to be working if viral load drops by 90% within 8 weeks and continues to drop to less than 50 copies within 6 months. There are 2 different tests that give slightly different results. Therefore, when possible, people should be tested consistently with the same type of test.
· PCR (polymerase chain reaction)
· bDNA
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1 comment:
HIV/AIDS testing is very important for not only ourselves but the people arround us. Many people are afraid of being discriminated so they don't take the test as a result they hurt not only themselves but the people arround them. I meet many friends on a site called positivesingles.com. Some of them feel very regreted that they din't take the test as earily as possible.
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