The only sure shot way to find out if one is affected by HIV or another STD is to get tested. Most people are nervous about getting tested for the first time. There are other concerns too such as actually finding out the results; not knowing what to expect and anxiety about someone else finding out. While concerns are understandable, getting tested is the only way one can take away the anxiety of not knowing.
Getting tested is important especially because:
Left untreated, STDs, especially HIV, can cause serious health problems.
Early diagnosis and treatment goes a long way in ensuring that an HIV positive person stays healthy.
The tests for HIV and other STDs don't take much time.
There are advances in the treatment of HIV & AIDS occurring all the time; and new medications allow people living with HIV to live longer healthier lives. A positive test result is not a death sentence. But finding out and getting care is critical. Click here for testing centers.
How do tests work?
HIV tests detect antibodies produced by the body to fight HIV once infection has occurred. A positive result means that HIV antibodies are present in the blood. In other words, a person is infected with HIV and can infect others. A negative result means that no HIV antibodies were found in the blood at the time that it was drawn. In many instances this means that a person does not have HIV. However, it might also mean that they were tested too soon after infection to accurately detect the HIV antibodies. It ordinarily takes three to six months (called 'the window period') for people who have been infected with HIV to develop enough antibodies for their HIV status to be accurately detected by the test. This may mean that you need to be tested again if you may have been infected during this period.
There are a number of different ways to screen for HIV today: ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay – the most commonly followed procedure)
Spot test or Rapid Test: These may give false positive results and hence should be confirmed
Confirmatory Tests: Western Blot, the most commonly used procedure
How much does an HIV test cost?
Many clinics offer free testing for HIV and other STDs. The cost for a test at private hospitals is less than Rs. 500.
Will the results of my test be confidential?
In India, HIV tests are either anonymous or confidential.
Anonymous HIV Testing: Your name is not linked to your test results.
Confidential Testing: Your name is recorded along with your test results. These results may be made available to medical personnel.
What should I ask before getting tested?
Ask how the tests will be done and how you will informed about the results. Ask how much the tests will cost. If you are concerned about the privacy of your test and results, ask who will have access to this information and how the results will be recorded.
Should I get tested?
If you are concerned that you might have HIV or another STD, or have never been tested, you should discuss your risk with your doctor. Remember that many STDs show no visible symptoms and the only way to know for sure is to be tested.
Before beginning a new sexual relationship, both you and your partner should discuss your sexual history and risk with each other as well as a doctor to determine which STDs you might consider getting tested for before becoming sexually active.
If I or someone I know tests positive, what are my next steps? What are the treatment options?
For those who test positive for HIV, it is important to talk with a health care provider about what is the most appropriate treatment for them. It is also important to find support and resources within your community. While there is no cure for HIV, new combination drug therapies have been found highly effective for some in delaying the onset of AIDS. Additional, medications can help to prevent and treat any opportunistic infections. Another important reason to see a doctor is to monitor and maintain your health.
Remember, early diagnosis and consistent care from a health care professional are essential to best treat HIV.
One special note for pregnant women: Certain HIV treatments during pregnancy can significantly lower the chances that a woman with HIV will pass the virus on to her baby. Also, because all babies are born with their mothers' antibodies, they may test positive at birth if their mother is infected with HIV. So it's important that babies born to an HIV positive mother be tested again for HIV at 18 months of age, or according to a doctor's suggestion.
If you are HIV negative, it is important that you protect yourself – all the time. If you are having sex, make sure you know how to use a condom correctly and that you use one every time. Don't inject drugs or share needles. Also, if you didn't wait six months after your last possible exposure to HIV, you should get tested at the six-month mark.
Hospitals and clinics can test you for most STDs, including HIV. However, for more accurate information on the same, it is advisable to find out from your State AIDS Society where is the nearest testing center.
Delhi Tel: 011 - 24372229 (TARSHI: Talking About Reproductive and Sexual Health. Issues, Mondays to Wednesday from 10 am to 4 pm for counselling services)
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