Why is an HIV test done?
An HIV test is done to:
- Detect an HIV infection.
- Screen blood, blood products, and organ donors to prevent the spread of HIV.
- Screen people who are pregnant for HIV infection. If you're pregnant and have HIV, getting treated early can prevent your baby from being born with HIV.
- Find out if a baby born to someone who has HIV is infected with HIV.
This test is not done to find out if a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS means that a person is HIV-positive and other problems are present.
How is an HIV test done?
A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm.
How do you prepare for an HIV test?
In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to.
What do the results of an HIV test mean?
Results are usually ready in 2 to 4 days for tests done in a lab. Some rapid office tests and home tests will give results in a few minutes.
Normal result
No HIV antibodies or antigens are found. And if you had a test that checked for HIV RNA or DNA, none was found. Normal results are called negative.
Uncertain result
Test results don't clearly show whether you have an HIV infection. This is usually called an indeterminate result.
Abnormal result
HIV RNA, DNA, antibodies, or antigens are found. These results are called positive.
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