HIV/AIDS | HIV Testing

Prevention is the only way to keep HIV / AIDS from spreading. Thousands of individuals are unknowingly transmitting the disease each year because they haven't been tested. To protect yourself and your loved one, you must be tested. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions regarding HIV testing:

What kinds of tests are there?
What is the OraSure HIV antibody test and how it is done?
How private is my test result?
What results are possible from my test and what do they mean?
How could the test results affect me? Who should I tell about my test results?

What kinds of tests are there?

When you are tested for HIV, a blood or OraSure HIV- 1 specimen will be collected. Be aware that you have a choice of having either a blood specimen or an OraSure HIV-1 sample taken for HIV testing. Your specimen will be sent to a testing laboratory. The laboratory will check your specimen for HIV antibodies. The presence of HIV antibodies in your body means that you have been Infected with the AIDS virus.

What is the OraSure HIV antibody test and how is it done?

The OraSure HIV- I Oral Specimen Collection Device is a device used to collect oral fluid from the mouth in only a few minutes without using needles. The oral fluid is tested to see if it contains HIV antibodies. If you decide to have an OraSure HIV-1 sample tested for HIV antibodies, a trained collector will ask you to place the OraSure HIV-1 Oral Specimen Collector Pad between your lower cheek and gum and gently rub the pad back and forth until it is wet, then leave it in place for two minutes. The collector will ask you to put the pad in a vial and snap off the stick. Your sample will be sent to a laboratory for HIV- I antibody testing. OraSure HIV- I specimen collection is painless and involves no needles. There will be no visible sign that you have been tested. Having an OraSure HIV- I sample tested for HIV antibodies is a very accurate method. Blood testing, however, is more accurate.
Reference: Noveilo, M.D., M.P.H., Antonia Coello. Surgeon General's Report to the American Public on AIDS.

How private is my test result?
Your test result is private information. It is illegal for anyone to disclose your HIV test results without your permission.

What results are possible from my test and what do they mean?

There are three possible results.

Negative Results
A negative result means the lab found no HIV antibodies In your specimen. If you had no risks for HIV in the six months before your test, you were probably not infected with HIV. Read “How can I avoid becoming infected?” Talk to your health care provider about your result. If you had any risks of becoming infected with HIV in the six months before your test, it is still possible that you have HIV. This is because your body can take six months after you are infected to make HIV antibodies. Also, sometimes test results are wrong. Results are wrong more often with OraSure HIV- 1 specimens than with blood specimens. Get tested again in three to six months to be sure you are not infected. You can stay free of HIV by following prevention guidelines. Practice safe sex, ask your health care provider to help you understand what your result means for you.

Positive Results
A positive result means that you may have an HIV infection. If you test positive for the first time, the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors (ASTPHLD) recommends that HIV testing be repeated using a new sample for persons who test positive for the first time*. The repeat testing can be done on either a second OraSure or a blood specimen. Early detection means that you may benefit from special medical care. New treatments can help keep you healthy, even though you have HIV. See a doctor, even If you don't feel sick. A doctor can help you stay healthy and live longer. Other tests can tell you how strong your immune system is and what treatments might be best for you. Some people stay healthy for a long time With HIV. Others may become ill more rapidly. Be careful not to pass HIV on to others.

Indeterminate Results
An Indeterminate result cannot be interpreted as a positive or as a negative test result; therefore, it is not known whether you are, or are not, Infected with HIV. HIV testing should be repeated using a new sample.If you decide to use OraSure HIV- I follow the instructions of the person trained to collect the oral specimen.

*NOTE: Full descriptive information about the OraSure HIV- I Oral Specimen Collection Device is available from the trained collector or from the ordering physician.

How could the test results affect me?
Information coming soon.

Who should I tell about my test results?
Information coming soon.

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