Human immunodeficiency virus has had a major impact in the human race. Many efforts have been geared towards its control and eradication and among them include understanding how it works.
The surest way of detecting HIV is through a blood test. The aim of taking this test is to detect the antibodies which react to the HIV infection and which are used to detect the presence of HIV in the human blood. There are varying individual differences in the duration taken by one individual to generate the antibodies as compared to another individual. This duration in which the individual may not show any signs of infection even through a test is referred to as the window period. At such a time, the body is generating antibodies used to detect whether or not an individual is infected. However, this duration should not be confused with the incubation period since the incubation period refers to the duration from actual contraction of the virus to when the symptoms of HIV first appear.
This may take years depending on an individual’s health status.
For accurate testing of HIV, it is strongly recommended that individual take two tests. The first at about 25 days to one month. In this duration, HIV Antibodies will have seroconverted giving a chance of 90% accuracy. A second test is advised upon for a sure confirmation, which should be taken one month after the first one. This offers a more accurate diagnosis as the seroconversion would be done giving a 95% and above accuracy. Through a blood test therefore, a span of 14 days seroconversion may be over but in some instances, it takes up to 12 weeks. This is what institutes the necessity of a second test.
A ribonucleic acid (RNA) test also offers a chance for earlier detection since it screens directly. It offers a chance of detection at a span of 9-11 days since it does not rely on the antibodies. It should be noted that the HIV tests only provide results for an individual’s status at that time only. In case of further exposure, one may need to undertake another test to ascertain their status after the exposure.
The surest way of detecting HIV is through a blood test. The aim of taking this test is to detect the antibodies which react to the HIV infection and which are used to detect the presence of HIV in the human blood. There are varying individual differences in the duration taken by one individual to generate the antibodies as compared to another individual. This duration in which the individual may not show any signs of infection even through a test is referred to as the window period. At such a time, the body is generating antibodies used to detect whether or not an individual is infected. However, this duration should not be confused with the incubation period since the incubation period refers to the duration from actual contraction of the virus to when the symptoms of HIV first appear.
This may take years depending on an individual’s health status.
For accurate testing of HIV, it is strongly recommended that individual take two tests. The first at about 25 days to one month. In this duration, HIV Antibodies will have seroconverted giving a chance of 90% accuracy. A second test is advised upon for a sure confirmation, which should be taken one month after the first one. This offers a more accurate diagnosis as the seroconversion would be done giving a 95% and above accuracy. Through a blood test therefore, a span of 14 days seroconversion may be over but in some instances, it takes up to 12 weeks. This is what institutes the necessity of a second test.
A ribonucleic acid (RNA) test also offers a chance for earlier detection since it screens directly. It offers a chance of detection at a span of 9-11 days since it does not rely on the antibodies. It should be noted that the HIV tests only provide results for an individual’s status at that time only. In case of further exposure, one may need to undertake another test to ascertain their status after the exposure.
