HIV/AIDS (cont.)
Medical Author:
Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP
Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACPMary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. IN THIS ARTICLE
HIV/AIDS DiagnosisHIV infection is commonly diagnosed by blood tests. There are three main types of tests that are commonly used: (1) HIV antibody tests, (2) RNA tests, and (3) a combination test that detects both antibodies and a piece of the virus called the p24 protein. In addition, a blood test known as a Western blot is used to confirm the diagnosis. No test is perfect. Tests may be falsely positive or falsely negative. For example, it can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to turn positive. This time period is commonly referred to as the "testing window period" and may last six weeks to three months following infection. Therefore, if the initial antibody test is negative, a repeat test should be performed three months later. Early testing is crucial, because early treatment for HIV helps people avoid or minimize complications. Furthermore, high-risk behaviors can be avoided, thus preventing the spread of the virus to others. Testing for HIV is usually a two-step process. First, an inexpensive screening test is done. If that test is positive, a second test (Western blot) is done to confirm the result. Antibody tests are the most common initial screening test used. There are different types of antibody screening tests available:
Other tests, such as those that look for virus RNA and the combination test, are not commonly used for screening. Must Read Articles Related to HIV/AIDS
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Viewer Comments & ReviewsHIV/AIDS - TreatmentsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What treatments have effectively managed your HIV/AIDS infection? |
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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease was first described in 1981 among 2 groups—one in San Francisco and the other in New York City.
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