Table of Content
This medication reduces the chances of catching HIV after exposure. You can get this treatment from any sexual health clinic. With treatment, HIV positive individuals live long and healthy lives. We share information and resources for greater understanding of HIV. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.
Once they complete the test, they need to send the sample to their nominated lab, after which they should receive their results within 1–3 business days. While nonapproved rapid tests or mail-in tests are available, research has not reached a consensus on the accuracy of home HIV tests. However, some studies point to home tests having slightly less accurate results than a doctor’s office. HIV tests are offered at many types of places including your health care provider’s office. The CDC web page on HIV testing has information on where you can get screened, the different types of tests and what you can expect.
Frequently asked questions
If test results are positive, Verisana encourages you to talk with your doctor about treatment options. There’s no counseling option available through their service. Some tests check for multiple sexually transmitted infections . Depending on the specific infection, they may require an additional urine sample or vaginal swab to be sent to a lab.
A subscription may save money long term, especially for those who may have a higher risk of exposure. People can choose which lab to send results to based on location and cost. Health Testing Centers also says the single HIV test works within 18–45 days following exposure to the virus. Free shipping can take up to 10 days, which may be unsuitable for people who require quick testing.
New to home tests?
It is important to talk with your health care provider before starting a new medicine and about side effects and warnings for any medicines you take. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 years old be screened for HIV at least once as part of their routine health care. A positive result does not definitively mean infection, only that more testing is necessary. A negative result may not be accurate if you have been exposed within the last 3 months. Individuals can collect the test in person from the lab or receive it in the mail.
Some pharmacies or community health centers offer free testing too. When you send the blood sample, it will be tested at a CLIA certified lab. Your information is stored in an encrypted system that accommodates security with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act . According to HIV.gov, about 1.2 million people in the United States live with HIV today, and 14 percent of them don’t know they have it. At-home HIV tests are one way to know your HIV status.
When should you take a home HIV test?
Research suggests that home HIV testing has an accuracy rate of around 92%. In comparison, tests in a doctor’s office are accurate 99% of the time. The accuracy of an at-home HIV test can depend on how closely a person follows the test kit instructions. Inaccurate results can occur if a person collects a sample incorrectly. A person needs to use an oral swab to perform the test. They take a sample at home, and results are usually available within 20–40 minutes.
They can help you avoid an in-person doctor’s visit, save time, and start treatment sooner if needed. You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure you collect a good sample. Learn more about what a negative or positivetest result means.
HIV overview
Be sure to check with your insurance company and health care provider about reimbursement for tests that you purchase. You or your health care provider will mail the sample to a lab for testing. Individuals then send their sample to a certified lab. The company will disclose the results within a few days of receiving the sample via a secure portal on its website. According to the FDA, the test requires a person to swab their upper and lower gums. Once they collect a sample, they place the stick into the test tube.
They may also wish to speak with a healthcare professional if they experience flu-like symptoms within 2–4 weeks of potential exposure to the virus. A person who engages in sexual contact with several people or uses recreational drugs with others may need to be aware of the initial HIV symptoms. The CDC recommends everyone aged 13–64 years receive HIV testing at least once if they are at low risk of contracting HIV. Those at higher risk may wish to get tested more frequently. This test requires a finger-prick blood sample, which some may find unpleasant or difficult to collect. People will receive their test results within a few days of sending a sample via a secure portal.
Health Testing Centers offers a large variety of home HIV tests. A person can choose from single HIV tests or packages that include testing for HIV and other STIs. A person should contact a doctor if they receive a positive test to confirm the results and discuss any required follow-up treatments. The kit does not require sending a sample to a lab.
To compile this list, we looked at at-home HIV tests offered by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified labs. We also looked at each test’s cost, results for delivery time, insurance or health savings spending approval, and ease of purchasing. You can buy an HIV self-test at a pharmacy or online. Your local health department or another organization near you may offer free or reduced cost self-tests, which you can find using the locator below. The only FDA-approved HIV self-test currently available in the United States is an oral fluid test.
If your health care provider orders the test, they will contact you when your test results are ready. It uses an oral swab to test for your body's response to fighting the HIV virus. Healthcare professionals have used oral tests for HIV since 2004. Testing on a regular basis is important to help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Tracee Herbaugh is a writer and journalist who lives in the Boston area. She writes about culture, lifestyle, health, and family relationships. You can view her work online or find her on Twitter. It’s also a good idea for pregnant people to get tested.
Test at Home for HIV
According to a 2018 review, there has been much debate over the effectiveness of home HIV tests. However, the review found that the majority of people could use the test accurately at home. A 2018 study concluded that home HIV tests should become a staple option to increase the number of people being tested and empower those wishing to take an HIV test. This article explores what a person needs to know about at-home HIV tests, including where to find them, their reliability, and when to consult a doctor. If the home test is positive, a follow-up laboratory test will need to be done to confirm the results.
No comments:
Post a Comment