Jessie I Snyder

What is Involved in Testing For HIV?



Posted: Wednesday, July 27, 2011

by Jessie I Snyder
TRUE INSPIRATIONS

HIV testing is a relatively quick and easy procedure. There are several types of HIV tests available. Talk with your doctor or healthcare professional to decide which test is best for you.

There are five major types of HIV tests available. The most common is the Standard HIV Test also called the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA-which involves providing a sample of your blood, oral secretions, or urine to a medical professional for analysis. A Standard HIV exam looks for HIV antibodies in your body fluid sample. HIV antibodies are small proteins produced by your immune system in response to the presence of HIV. The results of a Standard HIV assessment can take up to two weeks to process. If your bodily fluids test positive for the presence of HIV antibodies, your doctor will recommend a second HIV test to confirm the diagnosis.

The second type of HIV test is called the Rapid HIV test. You can learn the results of this assessment in as little as 20 minutes. The doctor will take a small sample of your blood through a finger prick or he may swab your gums to retrieve an oral secretion sample. Like the Standard HIV test, the Rapid HIV test looks for HIV antibodies in your blood or oral secretion sample. A positive exam requires a second assessment to confirm the results.

The third HIV test that is available is the Home test kit. This assessment was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in April of 2010. This exam helps maintain your privacy because it does not require a trip to the doctor’s office. During the Home test, you take a small sample of your blood and mail it to the lab for analysis. You then retrieve your results by calling the provided number three to seven days after mailing your sample. A counselor is also available for you to talk to you if you have any questions or concerns before or after you receive the results.

You also have an Oral HIV test which can be performed in a doctor’s office or clinic. To use the Oral HIV test, gently scrap the inside of your mouth for saliva, the salvia is then confirmed for HIV antibodies. The results of this exam are as accurate as the blood tests.

Finally, there is the urine test, which is also available in a doctor’s office or clinic. However, it is somewhat less accurate than the blood or saliva test. Like all other assessments, a positive examination must be confirmed with the Western Blot test.

In conclusion, I have discussed five types of HIV tests. All of which are relatively easy and fast to administer. They take as little as 20 minutes for the Oral test and as long as two weeks for the ELISA test. As with all the tests if the results come back positive a second test should be administered to confirm the results.
Jessie Snyder is a 39 year old college student at Full Sail University, web writer, and author of two books True Inspirations of the Heart (a book of poetry); and Sleeping With The Angels-A Story of Courage (her life story.) She hopes to get both books published within the next five years. She enjoys writing poetry, special interest and first person stories. Contact her at www.jessiesnyder.blogspot.com or follow her on Facebook, My Space OR Twitter. Also, at http://faithandinspriation.blogspot.com/
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