LAB DIAGNOSIS (HIV)

DETECT HIV VIRUS

What is an HIV test?

Shortly after infection with HIV.the body starts to respond by making antibodies against the virus.This usually takes about 6-12 weeks. An HIV test is a blood test that can find out if these specific antibodies are present in the blood it does not detect the virus itself.

What do the results mean?

A positive result in a person over 15 months old means that :

The person has antibodies against HIV, and is thus HIV -infected and can transmit the virus to others.

A positive result in a child under 15 months old can mean either that:

The child is infected with HIV, OR

The child is infected with HIV, but has received antibodies from the mother,in the same way as many other

antibodies are transferred during pregnancy.

A negative test result can mean either that : -the person is not infected with HIV, OR

The person is infected with HIV, but has not yet made antibodies against the virus. (This is called the "window period")

The HIV test

Does not provide any information about a person's present state of health.

Does not determine if a person has HIV -related disease, cannot tell when or how a person became infected with HIV does not tell if a person with HIV infection has transmitted the virus to anyone else. Because the

results of the HIV test can have dramatic effects on families, relationships, employment and the individual's own well-being, it is important that people be tested only with their consent, that they be counselled  before and after testing, and that the results be kept confidential, that is, shared only with the individual, or others designated by the individual.