HIV Testing

Can I get tested without visiting a clinic?: You can be tested at the doctor's rooms. You can be tested at the sites where testing is provided. Enquire at your local clinic
How can I tell if I have HIV or AIDS?: The only way for you to know is if you have an HIV test. An HIV test reveals whether HIV is present in your body.
How is the HIV test performed?: Before you undergo an HIV test you must give informed consent for the test to be done The medical professional handling the HIV test will do a pre-test counseling to asses individual risks and to explain how the test works and how to read the test results and give advice on how to cope with the results On receiving your results you receive post test counseling where your results are explained regardless of the test result.
How long must I wait for my results?: This depends on the test used and where it is done, it can take a few minutes, to a few weeks to get the results back. If a rapid test is done you get the results within 20 minutes of testing.
If I test HIV negative, does that mean my partner is HIV negative too?: No, there are chances that your partner can be positive.
What is a rapid test?: 1. It is an HIV test that gives you results immediately within 10 to 20 minutes. 2. It is as accurate as the test done at the laboratory, because if the results are positive a confirmation will be done immediately.
What is a window period and what does that mean?: Commonly-used HIV tests detect the antibodies produced by the immune system in response to HIV. Antibodies are produced by the immune system in response to an infection. A window period is from the time of being exposed to the virus to the time when HIV antibodies can be detected in your blood. During the window period, people infected with HIV have no antibodies in their blood that can be detected by an HIV test. For most people, it takes three months for these antibodies to develop. In rare cases, it can take up to six months. During this ?ĂÂŁwindow period?ĂÂĽ of early infection a person is at their most infectious, and should take measures to prevent any possible transmission. The person may already have high levels of HIV in their body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. HIV can be passed on to another person during the window period even though an HIV test may not show that you are infected with HIV. In that instance it is advisable to be re-tested at a later date, and to take appropriate precautions in the meantime.
What other test do I need to do if I am diagnosed HIV positive?: 1. A CD4 count which will determine how strong is your immune system is. 2. A viral load which will determine the number if viruses you have in your blood.
When should one take an HIV test?: 1. Every sexually active should tested be tested at least once a year. 2. A person who has been raped needs to be tested after the rape incident and three months later. 3. Every child born of a HIV positive mother must be tested at 6 weeks.
Why should I take an HIV test?: 1. to know your status. 2. to protect yourself from getting infected if you are negative. 3. if you are HIV positive ,you can take all the necessary precaution to prevent others from getting it and also to protect yourself from getting re-infected 4. to get treatment early before you immune system gets too weak.