Testing for HIV

Do you think you might have HIV? Are you afraid of finding out whether or not you have HIV?

Taking an HIV test can be a nerve-racking experience, but it's very important to go through it. Knowing your HIV status will propel you to make the right decisions for your life. With June 27 being National HIV Testing Day, this is a great time to get tested.


Take the test, take control
It has been estimated that 250,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive but are unaware of their status.* If you are HIV positive, finding out early and taking appropriate actions can help save your life and those of others. If you are HIV negative, knowing that for certain will provide a sense of security for yourself and your sexual partner(s). If you are a pregnant woman, you should be tested in order to protect your baby.


You can't tell by looking
There is no way of knowing whether or not you have HIV without taking a test approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Just because someone looks and feels healthy does not mean that he or she is HIV-negative. It can take years before someone who is HIV-positive shows the signs of infection. Don't assume that because someone looks good, that it's OK to have unprotected sex with him or her. Get tested with your partner and be sure.


Where to get tested
To find an HIV testing event nearest you, enter your zipcode at the bottom right of this page, or visit www.hivtest.org. HIV tests are available at many doctors' offices, hospitals and health clinics. We highly recommend going to a testing center that offers HIV counseling in addition to the actual test.


How long does it take to find out the results?
Results from commonly used HIV tests take about 1-2 weeks. There are also "rapid tests" that can show results in 20 minutes. The rapid tests are available in medical and health settings. They are not available for home use.


HIV testing for vaccine trial participants
HIV vaccines are designed to provoke immune responses – this includes antibody production. Standard tests for HIV detect antibodies, not virus. Study participants who receive HIV vaccines may test positive (seropositive) on these standard tests but it doesn't mean they are HIV-infected. We refer to this as Vaccine-Induced SeroPositivity, or VISP. As part of our studies, HVTN uses different types of HIV tests and interprets the results based on the vaccine product used in each trial.

In order to get accurate testing, vaccine trial participants are encouraged to receive HIV testing only at an HVTN research site. Trial participants and their health care providers may need to be informed about the need to opt out of testing offered at other locations. To learn more, contact a research site closest to you.


Can I test myself from home?
Currently, there is only one HIV home test kit approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is called the "HIV-1 Test System" and is produced by Home Access Health Corporation. The system costs $44 and you can find out your HIV status in 7 business days. An express system costs about $60. However, these are not completely home-based processes. After you collect a small amount of blood by pricking a finger, you will need to mail the blood sample to a certified laboratory for analysis.

Beware of unapproved HIV home testing systems that are marketed on the Internet, in newspapers and in magazines. Some tests claim to provide results in the home in 15 minutes or less. The FDA has not approved these rapid home test kits for use and marketing in the United States. The only one it has approved of is the HIV-1 Test System produced by Home Access Health Corporation. For more information about FDA-approved HIV testing, call 1-800-835-4709 or visit their website.



Related Links:
National HIV Testing Day
Hope Takes Action

Reference:
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention