Who needs to be getting examined for HIV?

Everybody needs to be examined a minimum of as soon as for HIV between the ages of 13 and 64, and proceed to get examined previous age 64 in the event that they’re sexually energetic. However sure components can put you at excessive threat for the virus, which suggests it’s best to get examined extra typically. When you have a sexually transmitted an infection (STI), for instance, you’re extra prone to get HIV in comparison with folks with out an STI. And in case you have a sexual accomplice who has HIV, particularly with late-stage HIV an infection or excessive viral load, it will increase the chances you’ll get HIV as effectively.

Learn: Older Girls Get HIV, Too >>

Anybody who’s sexually energetic or shares needles needs to be examined for HIV. It’s because the virus can enter your physique by way of contaminated fluids corresponding to blood, semen and vaginal fluids. Throughout vaginal or anal intercourse, ladies have a larger chance of getting HIV than their male accomplice since receptive intercourse (the particular person receiving the penis) is larger threat than insertive intercourse (the particular person inserting a penis). When you have a number of intercourse companions or in case you aren’t certain of your accomplice’s sexual historical past, it’s a good suggestion to get examined.

If you happen to’re planning a being pregnant, try to be examined for HIV previous to changing into pregnant. It’s because HIV an infection may very well be handed on to your unborn child by way of the placenta throughout being pregnant or labor and supply. Breastfeeding also can move the virus on to the child.

Older ladies and girls in menopause are additionally in danger as a result of thinning vaginal tissue and an absence of lubrication could cause cuts within the vagina throughout intercourse. This will increase the danger of publicity to the virus, so in case you’re sexually energetic, it’s best to nonetheless get examined no matter your age.

How do you get examined for HIV?

If you happen to’re in search of locations to get an HIV take a look at, you may begin together with your clinic or healthcare supplier’s workplace. A lot of them supply free or low-cost HIV testing. It’s also possible to enter your ZIP code, metropolis or state into the HIV.gov clinic finder to seek out your nearest testing middle.

You might be able to get free testing beneath the Reasonably priced Care Act in case you have medical insurance. Most insurance policy supply HIV screening and counseling freed from value.

Testing is all the time confidential, which means your outcomes gained’t be proven to anybody apart from you. The outcomes are reported to authorities companies to assist public well being officers estimate HIV in your state, however your private info just isn’t shared. It’s also possible to get examined anonymously, the place you go by a quantity slightly than your identify.

What are the several types of HIV checks?

Antibody-only checks search for HIV antibodies, that are produced by your immune system whenever you’re uncovered to viruses, 23 to 90 days after publicity. These checks might be finished both with a blood draw within the clinic or lab, or as a fast take a look at utilizing a finger stick or saliva swab. Blood draw outcomes can take a number of days to come back again to you, however they will detect antibodies sooner after publicity, in comparison with taking a fast take a look at. Fast HIV checks may give ends in 20 to half-hour.

Antigen/antibody checks search for each HIV antibodies and an HIV antigen generally known as p24, which is made in your physique whenever you’re first uncovered to HIV and earlier than HIV antibodies seem. You may have the take a look at finished on the clinic or lab 18 to 45 days after publicity or as a fast take a look at 18 to 90 days after publicity. Whereas fast checks utilizing a finger stick provide you with ends in about half-hour, they will take longer to detect the HIV an infection than in case you had a blood draw from a vein.

Nucleic acid checks (NATs) can really detect how a lot, if any, HIV virus is in your physique (generally known as the viral load) and are finished by a blood draw within the lab. NATs can detect the virus simply 10 to 33 days after publicity. Nonetheless, they’re dearer and aren’t often used for screening except you’ve had a high-risk publicity or a attainable publicity and are having signs.

How quickly after an HIV publicity are you able to get examined for HIV?

You shouldn’t take an HIV take a look at instantly after publicity as a result of it takes time in your physique to construct up the antibodies that the take a look at seems to be for. This timeframe from whenever you had been uncovered to the virus to when the virus is ready to be discovered is called the window interval. Every HIV take a look at has a distinct window interval and may give a unfavorable outcome in case you take a look at throughout that window interval even in case you have an HIV an infection. If you happen to get a unfavorable outcome, take a look at once more after the window interval to verify the unfavorable outcome.

Understanding HIV take a look at outcomes

When you have a unfavorable HIV take a look at, it means the virus wasn’t detected in your physique. Your HIV take a look at solely reveals your standing, not your accomplice’s standing. So you may’t assume your accomplice is unfavorable simply since you are. Your accomplice ought to get their very own HIV take a look at.

HIV-positive means there may be the presence of HIV in your physique. It doesn’t imply you’ve got AIDS. Whereas HIV checks are often correct, you will get a false constructive, which means your take a look at outcomes present you’re constructive whenever you’re not.

If you happen to get a constructive outcome, it’s essential to see your HCP as quickly as attainable so therapy can start. Not solely do drugs assist maintain your physique wholesome, however they will vastly decrease your possibilities of passing HIV on to others.

If you happen to assume you’ve been uncovered to HIV, discuss together with your HCP as quickly as attainable. They may help you determine when and what testing is required.