Because up to 280,000 Americans may be HIV-positive without knowing it, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly encourages anyone who may be at risk to get tested. Today, effective HIV treatments are readily available that "can induce suppression of the virus for a long time," says Dr. Ronald Mitsuyasu, director of the Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education at UCLA in Los Angeles.
So, since testing couldn't be easier, why not do it?
Types of Tests
Today's HIV tests do not check for evidence of the virus itself—they test for HIV antibodies, or proteins that the body makes when it is infected. The body takes an average of three months—and up to one year—to make enough antibodies to be detectable. So if you may have been exposed within a year of your last test, you may want to get re-tested. If an initial result comes back from the lab as positive, the sample undergoes a more specific test to confirm the results.
Good news for the needle-shy: oral and urine tests are available as an alternative to blood tests in many testing centers. Here's a breakdown of the tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though your testing center may not offer all of them:
- Blood tests: These were the first HIV antibody tests to be developed and are still the most widely used. There are both standard tests (results after 1-2 weeks) and rapid tests (results after 20 minutes; a positive result requires a longer test for confirmation).
- Oral mucosal transudate (OMT) tests: These tests involve rubbing a specially-treated pad between the lower cheek and gum. There are both standard tests (results after 1-2 weeks) and a rapid test (results after 20 minutes; a positive result requires a longer test for confirmation).
- Urine tests: Although these are FDA-approved, they are not as sensitive or as specific as the blood tests. Results are available after about two weeks.
- Home test kits: These tests are found at many drug stores. Currently, only the Home Access HIV-1 Test System ($40; results in one week) and the Home Access Express HIV-1 Test System ($60; next day results) are FDA-approved. These tests require you to prick your finger, place drops of blood on a special card and send the card to a licensed laboratory. Customers are given an ID number to use when phoning for results.
Confidentiality
Most test centers offer confidential testing, meaning that although you give your name, only medical personnel or the state health department have access to test results unless you provide written permission otherwise. Many states also offer anonymous testing, where you don't have to give your name. You are given a randomly assigned number, and only you are aware of the results.
