How Long Does It Take To Be Able To Detect Hiv In Blood Test

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Get the Facts

Blood Work: Two Common Tests to Use for Monitoring HIV Disease

Introduction CD4 Cell Count Tests Why Do You Use CD4 Counts? CD4 Counts and When to Start Therapy What Do CD4 Counts Mean? Viral Load Tests How Often Should Viral Loads Be Tested? What Tests Are Used? Getting Viral Load Tests Viral Load and Women Interpreting Test Results Disease Progression and Therapy Commentary Introduction Two of the most common tests that you and your doctor will use to monitor your health are...

Ask the Experts

Can antibody tests detect HIV hidden in white blood cells?

I read an article in the paper the other day that said that it's been found that HIV hides in inactive white blood cells, but doesn't show up in viral load tests. Does this hidden HIV have any implications for antibody testing? In other...

Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H.

Nevada State Health Division AIDS Program

Thank you for your question. It has been determined that HIV can "hide" in inactive white blood cells. But happily, this does not affect HIV antibody tests. HIV antibody tests will still show positive in persons with HIV, even when HIV... Read more »

Is HIV- antibodies the best test to detect HIV+? (ELITE CONTROLLERS, 2010) (ELITE SUPPRESSORS, 2010)

I have a friend of mind who hasn't taken any medications for HIV since 2006 and has maintained 0 viral load and a maximum CD4 after he was decleared cured by a herbalist. He was very sick before then but he's been fine all this while going...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,Your friend was "decleared" cured by an herbalist? Hmm. Another herbalist curing HIV/AIDS? And he's not on the cover of TIME magazine? What's up with that? Sorry Charlie, I don't believe it. The cure for HIV/AIDS has not... Read more »

Blood test from undetectable to detectable with CD4 increase

Dear Doctor. Thank you for the useful information you provide to help deal with HIV infection management. I started taking HIV meds last year (Atripla)-Feb 2012- blood test results came back undetectable after 6 months. However, my recent (Feb 2013)...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

It is unlikely that surgery alone would have resulted in an increase in viral load from undetectable to 54,000. If you are taking your medications as prescribed this really shouldn't have happened. Unless your virus, for whatever reason has... Read more »

How long after can Hiv be detected

HI. I've been with my husbsnd for 7 years now and I had a child 3 years ago. When I was pregnant, I had gotten tested for hiv and it came back negative. If i would have gotten hiv from my husband, who was my first when we started,Would hiv...

Response from Ewald Horwath, M.D.

University of Miami School of Medicine

The HIV test is a test for antibodies against the virus. The body responds to HIV infection by producing antibodies, which are detectable within a few weeks after the initial infection in most people. After 90 days, about 90% of those with HIV... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others

HIV tests that detect the genetic material of HIV

Posted by nomoreworry4me

HIV tests that detect the genetic material of HIV itself (rather than antibodies or antigens) are known as PCR tests. PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction and is a common way of testing for a variety of different organisms. The overall process... Read more »

can you detect HIV w/ a basic blood test?

Posted by Anonymous

can you detect HIV w/ a basic blood test like testing for ur hematology and and blood chemistry? a blood test not specifically for HIV like the ELISA test. Read more »

can a hematology blood test detect hiv?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

can a hematology blood test detect if you have hiv??? even though it isnt specifically for HIV like the ELISA??? pls answer Read more »

PCR not detecting all strains of HIV?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

As many worried persons, I took a PCR-RNA 4 weeks after my infection risk, to amend my fears. It came back negative. Although I should relax now, I'm still concerned, because I have read that all commercially available PCR-kits are just looking for... Read more »

Connect on Our Bulletin Boards »

Tools

My Health Tracker

Assess Your Risk for HIV

Find Local HIV/AIDS Services

Resource Centers

Guides for People With HIV

View All of Our Guides >>