If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, you must not think further. Immediately walk in a HIV testing center and undergo a test. Sexually transmitted infections usually do not show symptoms, so even if you are feeling fine, you may be infected. It is better to test yourselves and rule out the possibility of a disease.
The advantage with immediate testing is that, in case you are infected, the doctor can catch the infection at the earliest stage. Most STDs are curable. Treatment becomes easier when you catch them early.
What to expect during HIV testing?
When you walk in a STD clinic, the doctor will ask you to give a blood sample or oral fluid sample. If this is a rapid test, you can get results within 30 minutes.
If you are tested negative and you have not been exposed for about three months, then you can be rest assured you do not have HIV infection.
If you are tested positive, the doctor will ask you to undergo a follow-up test to make sure you are infected with HIV.
People who are diagnosed HIV positive need to undergo a thorough treatment and follow their doctor’s instructions. He/she will discuss with you the risk factors, the next steps to take, and about your overall health condition.
‘Window Period’
It is not possible to catch HIV infection as soon as it happens. There is a ‘window period.’ This is the time between the entry of the virus and the detection of the infection through a test. The period differs in individuals. It also depends on what type of HIV blood test you undergo.
Type of tests
1. Antibody test
HIV tests are usually antibody tests. These include home tests and rapid tests.
When a virus or bacterium enters your body, your immune system produces antibodies. These tests look for antibodies that your body may be producing against HIV. The antibodies are present in oral fluid or blood.
However, it takes time for the body to create enough antibodies to be detected in a test.
It takes atleast 3 weeks for the test to detect antibodies.
But, not all people (about 97 per cent) create antibodies that are detectable in test within 3 weeks. Some take 12 weeks. That’s why if you are tested positive in the first test result, your doctor asks you for a follow-up test after a few weeks to detect whether the antibodies are actually for HIV.
2. Fourth-generation or combination test
This test looks for antibodies and antigens. Foreign substances that induces the immune system to produce antibodies are called antigens. These are part of the virus or the bacterium. Antigens are present during acute infection, which is the stage when a person is immediately infected. This is before the body starts producing antibodies.
3. Nucleic acid test (NAT)
This HIV test looks for the virus, and not the antibodies, in the blood. This is an expensive test.
So, if you think you are exposed to the virus, wait not a minute more. Walk in a HIV testing center and get yourselves tested today.
