What Does The HIV Test Detect In The Blood Of An Infected Person?

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U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Role of STD Detection and Treatment in HIV Prevention

What is the link between STDs and HIV infection? How can STD treatment slow the spread of HIV infection? What are the implications for HIV prevention? Where can I get more information? References Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be an effective tool in preventing the spread of HIV , the virus that causes AIDS. An understanding of the relationship between STDs and HIV infection can help in the...

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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 it possible fo a person tested negetive to infect a person with HIV

My brother and his wife went for a HIV test recently. My brother tested negetive and his wife tested positive. We all know that his wife has benn very loyal and my brother has not been loyal. Is it possible that my brother is carriying HIV but it...

Response from David Wohl, M.D.

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

A person who is tested HIV negative could not have infected their HIV positive partner.HIV tests are very accurate but can be falsely positive in some cases. That is why we do confirmatory testing. They also do not tell you when the person was... Read more »

HIV not detectable in HIV+ Person?

Hello DoctorI have recently met this guy who is visiting my country, and we clicked. He is in his mid-forties and he looked always a bit "pale" in the face but I didn't think a big deal about it. Nothing sexually has happened between...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Your new boyfriend is unfortunately either very ill-informed or in a state of dangerous denial.First, the facts:1.He is HIV+.2.All HIV+ folks are infectious (capable of passing the virus on to their partner), even if their viral loads are... Read more »

How quickly can HIV antigens be detected after infection

If a person contracted the HIV virus and ten days later was tested for HIV antigens in the blood, would it be detected? What is the minimum period of time after infection that HIV antigens could be detected?...

Response from Rick Sowadsky, M.P.H.

Nevada State Health Division AIDS Program

Hi. Thank you for your question.The p-24 antigen test will pick up an infection an average of 6 days prior toa person testing antibody positive. The p-24 antigen tests will often showpositive 2-3 weeks after initial infection. However, not all... Read more »

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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 »

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