If you are sexually active, you and your partner need to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, on a regular basis. Three major kinds of HIV tests are available to choose from: standard, rapid or home HIV tests. Talk with your doctor to determine the kind of HIV test that is right for you.
Standard HIV Test
The most common standard HIV test–also called the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or ELISA–involves providing a sample of your blood, oral secretions or urine to a medical professional for analysis, explains AIDS, an HIV and AIDS information site managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A standard HIV test 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 test 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.
Rapid HIV Test
If you undergo a rapid HIV test, you can learn the results of your test in as few as 20 minutes, explain medical professionals at the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center. Your 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 secretions. A positive rapid HIV test requires a second HIV test to confirm the results.
Home HIV Test
As of April, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved one home HIV test kit: the Home Access HIV-1 Test System. This kit helps maintain your privacy because it does not require a trip to the doctor’s office. During a home HIV test, you take a small sample of your blood and mail it to a lab for analysis. You then retrieve the results by calling a provided phone number within three to seven days after mailing in your sample, explain doctors at The Mayo Clinic. A counselor is also available for you to talk with if you have any questions or concerns before or after you receive the results.
About this Author
Rachel R. Ahmed, M.S., is a freelance writer and editor based in San Diego. Ahmed received her M.S. degree in integrated biomedical sciences and has been working as a freelance writer and editor for more than five years. Some of her freelance clients include The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, alzforum.org, MedAngel.org, L3 Communications, and ThinkTank Learning.
