Tag: OraQuick In-Home HIV Test

HIV Tests

Four Common Types of HIV Tests Available Today

In order for a person to know their HIV status is through taking a HIV test. A person who thinks they may have been infected with the virus should take the test as soon as possible within the three months window.The four common types of HIV tests are: Antibody, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), Antigen and the Home Kits.

HIV Antibody Tests

There are many unique proteins in the HIV virus and when someone is infected with HIV their body produces antibodies aimed at neutralizing the virus. The antibodies do not eliminate the virus but they help to serve as a marker to show if someone in infected with the virus. This type of testing is done on blood samples. In most instances the test is done on an enzyme-linked assay called an EIA or ELISA. In the antibody test the serum of the person is allowed to react with the proteins of the virus that were produced in the laboratory. For a person who has been infected with HIV, the serum’s antibodies will bind to the HIV proteins.see more from http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/guantanamo/article32998299.html

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests

The PCR tests are used on blood samples. This test is commonly used on newborn babies who are born to HIV positive mothers. The PCR tests are costly and are so not usually used for routine screening of a person. The polymerase chain reaction test is also one which can detect the virus as soon as four weeks of infection. The PCR test is also sometimes referred to as the RNA test – it detects the infection as soon as it appears in a person’s bloodstream, before the body is able to develop the antibodies. It therefore tests the virus directly and not the antibodies like the previous test.

Antigen HIV Test

The antigen test is also sometimes called the p24 antigen test. P24 is a viral protein which is a distinctive HIV antigen.This protein is what makes up most of the HIV viral core. In order for the antigen test to be accurate a person has to be tested within one to three weeks of being infected. The test is aimed at detecting the high levels of p24 which are present in a person’s blood serum during the period of infection and sero-conversion.

HIV Tests

The Home HIV tests are the Home Access HIV-1 Test and the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test. Both tests are approved by the FDA but use different ways to test for the virus. The Home Access HIV-1 Test uses a blood sample which the person is required to send to a licensed laboratory so that it can be tested and then they can call in for the results. The latter test uses a fluid sample as the person swabs their mouth for an oral fluid which is immediately tested with the equipment in the kit. The results of this test are ready in twenty (20) minutes and for a positive result a follow up test with a doctor is required.learn more here!

Home HIV Test Kits

A Simple Guide on Using Home HIV Test Kits

Persons who have unprotected sex with someone who may already have HIV are at a risk of contracting the virus. If a person believes that they may have been exposed to the virus then they should go about taking a HIV test to be sure. The safest and most reliable way to go about testing for HIV is through a local clinic or hospital or even their private doctor. There is however also the option of using a HIV home test kit. The HIV homes test kit gives a person the privacy and confidentiality of testing themselves at home. There are two types of home test kits; one which gives you the results at home and one which lets you send the sample to a laboratory.

HIV Self-Test Kits

HIV self-test kits make it possible for a person to receive their results in a few minutes at home. The test involves taking a sample of your saliva, using the kit to test it and then waiting for the results. The drawback of the self-test kit is that it cannot detect an infection which may have happened in the past three months and so a blood sample would have to be used.

HIV PostalTest Kits

The HIV postal test kits come with the equipment for a person to take a sample of their blood and then send it off to a laboratory to be tested. These results will be sent in a text message or by a phone call from the doctor. The person uses a unique number and so confidentiality is not an issue. The postal test kit may be more accurate than the self-test kit since it usually uses blood samples and the blood sample test are more accurate. Whichever test kit that a person chooses however should be followed with a test by a professional in a clinic or hospital.

Home HIV Tests

It is important that any home test kit that a person is using is FDA approved.The Home Access HIV-1 Test System is the test which allows you to prick your finger for a blood sample, send the sample to a laboratory for it to be tested and then call to get your results. If a person receives a positive result from this kit then a follow-up test is done. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test provides in-home results from a fluid sample. The OraQuick test involves swabbing your mouth and using the kit to test it.

Home HIV Test Kits

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) nearly one in five Americans living with HIV do not know it. A person needs to know their HIV status so that they can start the necessary treatment in order to prolong their life. A person who has sex regularly with more than one partner should get tested once every six months. A person is also at risk for contracting HIV if they do drug and share needles with other persons. The choice on which test to use is dependent on the person’s situation/circumstance.