HIV Test Counselling Information - India

This guide outlines Pre and Post HIV Test counselling information. If you are undergoing an HIV test please make sure to read and understand the information on this page, and sign the counselling form after you are done.

Published Date : 2023-04-22T05:46:03.890Z

Updated Date : 2023-04-22T06:18:58.445Z

What is HIV?

HIV or human immunodeficiency Virus is a viral infection transmitted through various body fluids. Common modes of transmission are blood, semen, vaginal fluids and rarely breast milk. It can also be transmitted by shared needles or blood transfusions.

HIV Tests

There are several different kinds of HIV test. Each test varies in its ability to detect HIV and its window period.

What is the window period?

If you have been exposed to HIV, it takes some time before the virus or antibodies against the virus can be detected in your blood. This is called the window period. During this period, you may be carrying the virus but it cannot be detected by testing.

Rapid HIV Test - p24 antigen and Antibodies

This test sometimes referred to as HIV combo test, is performed by a technique called Lateral Flow Immunochromatography and tests for the presence of the p24 antigen - the virus itself and also antibodies against the virus (HIV 1/2 antibodies). The window period for this test is usually between 3 weeks to 3 months for the viral antigen, and upto 180 days or 6 months for the antibodies. What it means is that this test may not detect the viral antigen in the first 90 days after the infection, it may also not detect the antibodies for upto 180 days after the infection

HIV RNA testing

These tests use PCR and can detect the presence of the HIV-RNA. The window period is much smaller and it is typically the first test to become positive. There are two types of viral RNA, for the commonly detected HIV antigens, namely HIV-1-RNA and HIV-2-RNA. The window period for these tests is usually 15-30 days.

Reconfirmation

If a test performed by any method is negative, it should be repeated within 90 days, irrespective of the method used, to avoid the pitfalls of the window period.

What if I am positive?

A positive test does not necessarily mean that you are HIV positive. Any positive test must first be confirmed by another method. If it is still positive a repeat sample will be collected and retested. If it is still positive, a confirmatory test called the Blot Assay will be performed. As such 3 different methods are used to confirm any positive result.