Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the leading national public health institute of the United States. The CDC is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
What is the earliest you can get tested for HIV?
- People have a large amount of HIV in their blood. ...
- Some people have flu-like symptoms. ...
- But some people may not feel sick right away or at all.
- If you have flu-like symptoms and think you may have been exposed to HIV, seek medical care and ask for a test to diagnose acute infection.
How to know if you have HIV without getting tested?
You might have flu-like symptoms, including:
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Aches and pains, including muscle aches
- Tiredness
- Night sweats
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Rash
- Sore throat
- Dry cough
- Diarrhea lasting for more than a week
How long before you can test for HIV?
The window period of modern laboratory HIV tests is 45 days. The window period of rapid, point-of-care tests and self-tests is 90 days. The window period refers to the time after infection and before seroconversion, during which markers of infection (p24 antigen and antibodies) are still absent or too scarce to be detectable.
Why test for HIV when should I test for HIV?
- Are you a man who has had sex with another man?
- Have you had sex—anal or vaginal—with an HIV-positive partner?
- Have you had more than one sex partner?
- Have you injected drugs and shared needles or works (for example, water or cotton) with others?
- Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
How frequently should an HIV test be repeated?
If an antibody-only test is negative, repeat HIV testing should occur at six weeks, three months, and six months following the exposure since it can take up to six months for your body to make antibodies to the HIV virus.
Should I get tested twice for HIV?
So if you test negative a month or two after your exposure, your doctor may want you to retest after 3 months to be sure. Combination antigen-antibody tests. These look for antibodies and proteins from HIV called antigens in your blood. The p24 HIV antigen is what “turns on” your immune system to make antibodies.
How often should CD4 count be checked?
You should get the CD4 test every three to six months if: Your HIV is not being treated. You are being treated, but your viral load has not become undetectable. You are being treated, but your CD4 count is not usually below 300 cells/μL.
Does CD4 count increase with treatment?
With each year of treatment, the number of CD4 cells tends to increase by 50 to 150 cells per cubic millimeter (mm3) of blood. CD4 counts will often continue to improve for over a decade with consistent treatment.
What are signs of low CD4 count?
Symptoms may include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, weight loss, night sweats and fatigue. It is most likely to occur when the CD4+ T cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.
Should I get tested for HIV?
CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once. People at higher risk should get tested more often. If you...
I don't believe I am at high risk. Why should I get tested?
CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and more often if you d...
I’m pregnant. Why should I get tested?
All pregnant women should be tested for HIV so that they can begin treatment if they have HIV. If a woman is treated for HIV early in her pregnancy...
How does taking an HIV test help me?
Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to keep you and your partner healthy. If you test positive, you can take medicine to treat H...
Who will pay for my HIV test?
HIV screening is covered by health insurance without a co-pay, as required by the Affordable Care Act. If you do not have medical insurance, some t...
What should I expect when I go in for an HIV test?
If you get a test in a health care setting or lab, a health care provider or lab technician will take your sample (blood or oral fluid). If it’s a...
What Can I Expect When I Go in For An HIV Test?
If you take a test in a health care setting, when it's time to take the test, a health care provider will take your sample (blood or oral fluid), a...
How Soon After Exposure to HIV Can An HIV Test Detect If I Am infected?
No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after infection. If you think you've been exposed to HIV, talk to your health care provider as soon as possi...
Who Will Pay For My HIV Test?
HIV screening is covered by health insurance without a co-pay, as required by the Affordable Care Act. If you do not have medical insurance, some t...
How often should you do a viral load test?
When you start or change a drug combination, a viral load test will be done within the first month, to check that the treatment is working. After this, testing is generally performed every three to six months, although it may be more often to begin with and then less frequently once you are stable on treatment and doing well.
What does a viral load test tell you?
Viral load and CD4 tests will tell you about the health of your immune system and if your treatment is working effectively.
Why change treatment for HIV?
If you need to change treatment because your current HIV treatment isn’t controlling your viral load, it ’s important that you do this in good time to reduce the risk of resistance. How quickly you need to do this will depend on which anti-HIV drugs are taking; your healthcare team will discuss this with you.
How long after starting anti-HIV drug do you need to have a load test?
A viral load test one month after starting new anti-HIV drugs provides important information about your response to treatment. Before you start taking HIV treatment, or if you need to switch to a new combination, you should have a number of blood tests.
How often do you have to have a blood test for HIV?
Some of these are done every time you attend and some once a year.
What test should I take to see if I have HIV?
To help make sure that you start with an effective combination of anti-HIV medications, you should have a blood test to see if your HIV has resistance to any antiretroviral drugs.
When is HIV due for review?
Next review date. This page was last reviewed in July 2019. It is due for review in July 2022.
How does HIV test work?
How does taking an HIV test help me? 1 If you test positive, you can take medicine to treat HIV. Taking HIV medicine as prescribed can make the amount of HIV in your blood (viral load) very low—so low that a test can’t detect it (called an undetectable viral load). Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load is the best thing you can do to stay healthy. If your viral load stays undetectable, you have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. 2 If you test negative, there are more HIV prevention tools available today than ever before. 3 If you are pregnant, you should be tested for HIV so that you can begin treatment if your test is positive. If a woman with HIV is treated early in her pregnancy, the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby is extremely low (1% or less).
What happens if a woman is treated for HIV early in her pregnancy?
If a woman is treated for HIV early in her pregnancy, the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby is extremely low (1% or less). Testing pregnant women for HIV infection and treating those women who have HIV has led to a huge decline in the number of children born with HIV.
What to do if your HIV test comes back negative?
If your test result is positive, you should go to a health care provider to get follow-up testing.
Can HIV be detected by a test?
Taking HIV medicine as prescribed can make the amount of HIV in your blood (viral load) very low—so low that a test can’t detect it (called an undetectable viral load). Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load is the best thing you can do to stay healthy.
How long does it take for HIV to show up on a blood test?
Types of HIV Tests and Their Window Periods. Nucleic Acid Test (NAT) —A NAT can usually tell you if you have HIV infection 10 to 33 days after exposure. Antigen/Antibody Test —An antigen/antibody test performed by a laboratory on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after exposure.
How long does it take for an antibody test to detect HIV?
Antibody Test —An antibody test can take 23 to 90 days to detect HIV infection after an exposure. Most rapid tests and self-tests are antibody tests. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid.
How long does it take to get HIV results?
If it’s a rapid test, you may be able to wait for the results, but if it’s a laboratory test, it can take several days for your results to be available.
What happens if you are tested outside of a health care setting?
If you are tested outside of a health care setting or lab (such as at a community-based organization, mobile testing van, or elsewhere) you will likely receive a rapid HIV test (oral fluid or finger stick.)
What to do if your HIV test is positive?
If your test result is positive, you should go to a health care provider to get follow-up testing. Counselors providing the test should be able to answer questions and provide referrals for follow-up testing as well. You can use the HIV.gov locator to find a provider near you.
What is the time between HIV testing?
The time between when a person gets HIV and when a test can accurately detect it is called the window period. The window period varies from person to person and also depends upon the type of HIV test.
Can you get HIV after 72 hours?
No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after infection. If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, in the last 72 hours, talk to your health care provider about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), right away. The time between when a person gets HIV and when a test can accurately detect it is called the window period.
What is the antigen test for HIV?
Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate. If you have HIV, an antigen called p24 is produced even before antibodies develop.
How long does it take for a HIV test to show up?
Antibody tests look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid. Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days to detect HIV infection after an exposure. Most rapid tests and the only FDA-approved HIV self-test are antibody tests.
Why is HIV testing important?
Importance of HIV Testing for Prevention of HIV Infection. People with HIV who are aware of their status can get HIV treatment (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) and remain healthy for many years. Studies show that the sooner people start treatment after diagnosis, the more they benefit from ART.
How long does it take for HIV to show up in blood?
An antigen/antibody test performed by a laboratory on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after an exposure.
How long does it take for a finger prick to detect HIV?
Antigen/antibody tests done with blood from a finger prick can take longer to detect HIV (18 to 90 days after an exposure). Antibody tests look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid.
What to do if HIV test positive?
If the initial HIV test is a rapid test or a self-test and it is positive, the individual should go to a health care provider to get follow-up testing. If the initial HIV test is a laboratory test and it is positive, the laboratory will usually conduct follow-up testing on the same blood sample as the initial test.
How many people in the US have HIV?
An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV, including about 161,800 people who are unaware of their status. Nearly 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted by people who don’t know they have the virus. For people with undiagnosed HIV, testing is the first step in maintaining a healthy life and preventing HIV transmission.
How effective is HIV treatment for pregnant women?
If pregnant women are treated for HIV early in their pregnancy, the risk of transmitting HIV to their baby can be 1% or less.
How often should I get tested for HIV?
Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV at least once. If your behavior puts you at risk after you are tested, you should think about being tested again. Some people at higher risk should get tested more often. If your last HIV test result was negative, you should get an HIV test if you answer "yes" to any ...
What to do if you test positive for HIV?
If you test positive, you can take medicine to treat HIV . People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed can live long and healthy lives. There’s also an important prevention benefit.
Should I get tested for HIV while pregnant?
If you are pregnant, you should be tested for HIV so that you can begin treatment if you're HIV-positive. If an HIV-positive woman is treated for HIV early in her pregnancy, the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby can be very low.
What is HIV testing?
HIV Testing. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic first swept through America in the 1980s, researchers have learned much about the virus.
What to do if you get a positive HIV test?
If you receive a positive result, you will want to work with your healthcare provider on a treatment plan. Your healthcare provider will determine how far HIV has progressed and recommend medicines to help you manage it. You will also want to talk about your diagnosis with your sexual partner.
How long after exposure to HIV can you get PEP?
If you believe you may have had HIV exposure within the last 72 hours, talk to your healthcare provider. You may be able to get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) -- ie, medication. A PEP can prevent HIV when administered correctly. The sooner you begin to take it, the better, although it isn’t 100% effective.
How do I get HIV?
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection. The most common way for someone to get it is through a sexual activity where you exchange bodily fluids. This activity includes vaginal, oral and anal sex. However, you can contract the virus in other ways, including: Sharing needles with an infected person to take drugs.
How long does it take for a NAT test to detect HIV?
Nucleic acid test (NAT): The NAT test can detect HIV infection the earliest. It can tell if you have HIV infection 10 to 33 days after exposure. Antigen/antibody test: The antigen/antibody test can detect infection 18 to 45 days after exposure when performed by a lab using blood from a vein.
How long does it take to get results from HIV?
HIV has a particular antigen that this test can find. This rapid test uses a drop of blood from a finger prick and can give you results in roughly 30 minutes. HIV antibody test: This test is similar to the antigen/antibody test, but it only looks for the antibody.
What is the ADA for people with HIV?
Because of this, legislation exists to protect people living with HIV and AIDS. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with HIV from discrimination. If you believe someone has discriminated against you because of your HIV status, you may wish to consult legal counsel.
How to test for HIV at home?
You can do this quick, easy test at home. Just rub a swab in the area between your gums and teeth to collect a sample of oral fluid (it isn’t the same as saliva) for antibodies against HIV. If you’ve have had the virus for a while, the rapid oral test is highly accurate.
How long does it take for HIV to show up on a blood test?
An antibody/antigen test that uses blood from a vein can find HIV 18 to 45 days after you’re exposed to the virus.
How accurate is a rapid blood test for HIV?
One type looks for antibodies using a drop of blood from a prick of your fingertip. It’s about as accurate as a laboratory-based antibody test, but its window period could be longer -- between 18 and 90 days.
How long does it take for a blood test to show antibodies?
It can find antibodies (proteins your immune system makes when you’ve been exposed to the virus) 23 to 90 days after infection.
How long does it take to get HIV results?
For these tests, a technician will take a sample of your blood and test it. You’ll get results within a few days. Rapid tests. These tests provide results in around 20 minutes. You can get them done in a community clinic or take them at home.
What is HIV load test?
You may also hear this called an HIV RNA or a viral load test. It uses blood taken from a vein. You probably won’t get this expensive test unless you have symptoms and the doctor thinks you have a recent infection. It’s most often used to see how people who already have HIV respond to treatment.
How long does it take for a NAT to detect HIV?
Nucleic acid tests (NAT). These tests look for HIV in a window period of around 10 to 33 days after infection. They screen for signs of the HIV virus itself, not your antibodies to it.
What happens if you get HIV test too soon?
If you get tested too soon, you may get faulty results. If you wait too long to learn if you’re HIV-positive, you can miss out on early treatment and also unknowingly spread ...
How long does it take to get tested for HIV?
Almost everyone who is HIV-positive has detectable levels of antibodies at 3 months. So if you test negative a month or two after your exposure, your doctor may want you to retest after 3 months to be sure. Combination antigen-antibody tests. These look for antibodies and proteins from HIV called antigens in your blood.
How long does it take for a finger prick to detect HIV?
Nucleic acid tests (NATs). These can pick up HIV infections sooner than the other tests, from 1 to 4 weeks after you’re exposed. NATs look for pieces of the virus in your blood. It also can measure how much virus is there (viral load).
How long after exposure to HIV do you need to take PEP?
Emergency drugs called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may prevent HIV infection. You need to take them within 72 hours (3 days) after exposure. The sooner you start, the better.
What to do if you don't get PEP?
If you don't get to a doctor in time to get PEP, ask your doctor about getting tested for HIV. Some tests can detect the virus within a few weeks of exposure. You can infect others soon after you're exposed, so practice safe sex and take other precautions.
How long does it take for antibodies to show up on a lab test?
Lab test. Blood drawn from your vein is analyzed by technicians. The soonest it can detect antibodies is 3 weeks after exposure. Self-test.
Can you get HIV if you are negative?
Otherwise, you might get a false negative result, meaning that you may be HIV-positive even if the test results are negative.
Who should test for HIV?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), everyone between the age of 13 and 64 years should get tested for human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV) at least once in their lifetime, and more often for those at higher risk.
What are the early symptoms of HIV infection?
Not everyone who is infected with HIV will develop early symptoms, known as acute HIV infection. Two to four weeks after exposure to HIV, some people may develop flu-like symptoms that last from a few days up to several weeks. These symptom include:
What are the different types of HIV screening?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that leads to the immune system disease called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ( AIDS ), is life-threatening. There are several screening methods to confirm HIV.
What are the different types of HIV screening? (con't)
This test looks for the actual virus (viral load) in the blood. This test is very expensive and is only used for HIV screening if a person recently had high-risk exposure with an HIV-positive person, or to screen a person who has early symptoms of HIV infection. An NAAT can detect HIV infection as soon as 10 to 33 days after exposure.
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Lab Tests and Why They Are Important
Viral Load Test
- One important test is your HIV viral load test. It’s a lab test that measures how many HIV particles are in a sample of your blood. This is called your viral load. You want your viral load to be low. The higher your viral load, the greater your risk of becoming ill because of HIV and the more likely you are to transmit HIV. The viral load is highest during the acute (early) phase of HIV, and when a p…
CD4 Cell Count
- A CD4 cell countmeasures how many CD4 cells are in your blood. CD4 cells are infection-fighting cells of the immune system. As HIV disease advances, your CD4 count drops. The higher your CD4 cell count, the healthier your immune system. The CD4 count of an adult/adolescent who is generally in good health ranges from 500 to 1,200 cells/mm3. In contrast, if a person has a CD4 …
Other Important Lab Tests
- There are other lab tests that will help your health care provider get important information about your health and work with you to choose the right HIV medications for you. 1. Blood Chemistry Tests: This group of tests measures several different chemicals in your blood to help monitor the health of your organs, especially your heart, liver, and kidneys. Health care providers use these te…