Does Hiv Show Up On Tests Right Away

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HIV Testing

What Is HIV Testing? HIV testing tells you if you are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes AIDS. Most of these tests look for "antibodies to HIV. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to fight a specific germ. Other types of HIV test look for signs that the virus itself is in the blood. When people already know they are infected with HIV they might get other "HIV" tests. These measure how quickly...

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Girlfriend just tested HIV+ and is pushing me away.

Greetings,First off, let me say how comforting your website has been since my girlfriend and I found out she is HIV+. The best thing I have done for myself it to get educated as much as possible about HIV. I went from hysteria to relative calm the...

Response from Robert H. Remien, Ph.D.

Columbia University

It seems to me that you already know the answers to the questions that you ask. It is indeed normal for people to be "in shock" and have feelings of hopelessness when first finding out they are HIV positive. And it is rather typical to... Read more »

Meds Right Away?

Dear expert,I am 20 years old and have been positve for 16 months after an acute HIV infection. My docter put me on Atripla right away. I have been on the med ever since. My viral load is now undectable and CD4 of 779. My docter told me I am doing...

Response from Edwin DeJesus, M.D., F.A.C.P.

As you may know, Atripla is a coformulation of 3 anti-HIV medications: Sustiva, Viread and Emtriva. All HIV medications have potential for side effects, but the majority of those side effects usually occur shortly after the initiation of treatment.... Read more »

HELP! Counselor didn't do my HIV test right!

Dr. Bob,I don't know if you're an expert in rapid testing but I thought I'd ask your opinion anyway. So I took one of those finger prick oraquick rapid tests yesterday and it came back negative. However when I got home I looked up...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,I wouldn't worry. Although I agree appropriate protocol should be followed when performing any test, this particular oversight would not affect the validity of your negative test result. If my reassurance isn't enough to calm your... Read more »

Please tell me!!! Can HIV be spread right away!

Hi Doc.I've asked this question before but i never got answered. I'm really worried about something. If I contracted HIV, would I be able to infect someone else right away?? Or within 2 weeks? What is the time before someone who is HIV+...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

Unfortunately, there is no specific answer to your question since immune responses will vary from person to person. Some research states that HIV disseminates through the body within five days. If you have a potential exposure to HIV, it is best... Read more »

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tested neg but symptoms won't go away, why?

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

Hello everyone,

I tested for HIV two years after my exposure and it came back negative. I tried to put it behind me but I continue to present with symptoms such as thrush (from my understanding this is pretty much HIV specific), numbness in my... Read more »

posotive husband pushing me (-) away

Posted by Anonymous, 12 Replies

My husband purposed to me christmas 2002. He found out in august of 2003 that he has HIV, I was tested immideatly and am negitive. We married in october 2003. He has been my best friend for over 6 years and now is pushing me away. Nothing I do is... Read more »

not about hiv or testing

Posted by chichi, 2 Replies

hi,
i've posted to this board many times but this time it has nothing to do with hiv or testing.
when i orginally posted 8 months ago during my hiv "scare" one of my 2 cats died - out of the blue. she was only 10 and i took it very hard but i still... Read more »

Home access hiv test

Posted by LynnB, 3 Replies

Well I spent the money went ahead and pricked my finger, about passed out from that I am such a wuss, and sent the sample in. Then the next morning I called and my results were not in yet. So I waited all day calling off and on the check and... Read more »

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