When to Take an HIV Test

When to Take an HIV Test

If you are in a high-risk group, get tested now

Below we explain the test that identifies  the HIV antibody that can lead to AIDS.

Who should consider getting test for HIV?

Anyone who has been or is sexually active, anyone who is sexually active and not in a monogamous relationship;; IV drug users and anyone who has received a blood transfusion before the year 1985. Additionally, any person who does not know their HIV antibody status and who feels that they have been at risk for infection with HIV should consider testing.

How is the test given?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set guidelines, but not all doctors and hospitals follow them. Those guidelines recommend some type of prevention counseling before the test is given. Less than a tube of blood is then drawn. The labwork is done. The patient comes back for results and post-test counseling. At Whitman Walker, if the test is negative, that's the end of it. But the results are positive, the test is repeated three times to make sure it's accurate before telling the patient. Once again, not all doctors and hospitals follow those guidelines; some just draw the blood and send it to the lab.

What is the cost?

There is no charge at Whitman Walker, but the test costs money.

Once someone is exposed to HIV, how long does it take to show up on a test? Should he or she be tested again periodically?

It can take up to six months after the HIV virus enters the body before antibodies are produced. By six months, 99 percent of those infected with the virus will develop antibodies. But 95 percent of those who are infected with the virus will develop antibodies within three months after infection. Because of this window period for antibody development, people who have had unsafe sex or have shared needles three to six months before the test should consider re-testing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that millions of people in the United States are now infected with HIV. HIV infection/AIDS is on of the ten causes of death among people of all ages in the country.  Photo by Elena

Can people run into problems with their health or life insurance companies if they are tested and the results are positive?

Many life insurance companies require an HIV test as a coverage prerequisite. These companies often will not provide life insurance coverage to a person who has tested positive for HIV, Health insurance providers may drop a person from coverage or put a cap on benefits paid.

How confidential are the test results?

Many clinics that provide testing, including Whitman Walker, provide anonymous testing. This method provides no way of tracing who has tested positive. Some clinics provide testing that is only confidential and not anonymous.

What are the lates methods for self-adminstration of tests at home? Are these tests now available? If not, when will they be?

To date, no home testing method has been approved by the Food and Drug administration. Many home collection methods have been developed but are not yet available. Home collection kitrs will allow people to draw blood at home and mail the sample to a central testing center where results can be retrieved with a self-determined code. The conception of home testing has been criticized for many important reasons. In addition to inaccurate and misinterpreted results, home testing methods make it impossible to provide face-to-face counseling. Such counseling is critically important both before and after the test is taken and results are received.

Should newborn babies be tested?

Newborns should be teste if there is concern about the mother's risk of infection. However, because newborns have a quickly changing immune system, a baby with an HIV-positive result may later test negative.

If someone tests positive, what kind of care should he or she seek after the results come back?

Individual who test positive should seek medical attention for treatment as well as counseling as needed.  Individuals should also protect themselves from further infection and protect others from the virus. Precautions include following safe sex guidelines; never sharing needles or other drug works; reducing or stopping alcohol, cigarette, and drug use; eating well and getting plenty of rest and exercising; avoiding infections, especially those passed by sex;; and not donating blood, plasma, sperm, or organs.

Should more people be tested to help curtail the spread of the virus?

Testing is one of the best methods for early detection of HIV. People who are aware of their HIV status can significantly help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS by not putting others at risk.