HIV Testing

Tell me about HIV Tests.

Getting tested for HIV is very easy, one quick blood draw and you'll be on your way. We offer two types of HIV tests:

HIV Antibody Test With Reflex to Western Blot Confirmation (also known as an EIA test)

This is considered the "gold standard" test and is the most common screening for HIV. This test is 99.5% accurate in finding antibodies after seroconversion. You should be aware that antibody testing will NOT find HIV in the blood immediately after you have been exposed to the virus. When is a good time to test? Everyone's different. It can take some people up to 3 months to produce enough antibodies for the test to find. Sometimes it's sooner, sometimes later. If you're tested too soon, your result may be negative even though you've been infected. This is called a "false-negative". That's why repeat testing is critical. Getting another HIV antibody test in 3 months after the first test will give you the best, most accurate result. (So you can get some rest!)

HIV DNA Test by PCR With HIV Antibodies by ICMA

The HIV DNA test detects an HIV infection more accurately and more quickly after a possible exposure than the HIV Antibody test. The HIV DNA test can detect the virus as early as 6 days after possible exposure, however our physicians recommend waiting a full 21 days after possible exposure. Because no test is perfect, we also include an HIV Antibody test to give you an extra measure of confidence that your reported HIV status is accurate.

When your results are ready, we can connect you with a physician by phone if you're positive. Depending on your situation, he or she will advise you on next steps and, if necessary, discuss follow-up and testing / treatment.

What does "Reflex to Western Blot Confirmation" mean?

Reflex testing is an automatic confirmation of the test results. That means that all positive tests are automatically followed up with another test to confirm the positive results. It's done with the same blood sample so there's no extra blood draw and no extra cost to you. You may read about something called an ELISA test. Antibody tests are also known as ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) tests.

How soon after having risky sex should I get tested for HIV?

For the HIV DNA test, our physicians recommend waiting a full 21 days after possible exposure. For the HIV antibody test, it may take up to 12 weeks for the test to give accurate results. This is the period of time is known as the "window period" or seroconversion.

What do the HIV test results mean?

A positive HIV test result means that:

You may be positive for HIV and need confirmation for diagnosis
You can infect others and should take precautions during sex

A negative HIV result means that:

No antibodies were found in your blood at this time.
You may need to get retested if you tested before antibodies developed

If I test positive for HIV, does that mean that I will die?

Positive test results for HIV indicate that your body is infected with the virus that may develop into AIDS. It does not mean that you have AIDS. And it does not mean that you will die. Although there is no cure for HIV, it can be controlled with therapy. These therapies have greatly improved the quality of life for people living successfully with HIV.

Return to STD Basics