What is HIV Testing?
By Dinyelle Baker, Public Health Specialist, Counseling, Testing and Referral Coordinator, City of Kansas City, MO – Health Department - HIV Prevention
The test detects whether or not a person has been exposed to the HIV virus.
It is recommended that anyone who engages in unprotected sex of any kind, those who have used IV drugs and pregnant women should be tested for HIV.
There are three main HIV tests: a rapid test, oral (mouth swab) test and a blood test.
A rapid test is a screening test that produces very quick results, in approximately 20 minutes. Rapid tests use blood from a finger stick to check for the presence of antibodies to HIV. As is true for all screening tests, a reactive rapid HIV test result must be confirmed with a follow-up confirmatory test before a final diagnosis of infection can be made.
Oral tests use oral fluid (not saliva) that is collected from the mouth using a special swab. This is an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) antibody test similar to the standard blood EIA test. A positive (reactive) EIA must be used with a follow-up test to confirm a positive diagnosis. Results for an oral test may take up to two weeks.
A blood HIV test uses blood drawn from the individual’s vein and detects whether he or she has been exposed to the HIV virus. A positive EIA must have a follow-up test to make a positive diagnosis. Results of a blood HIV test take about two weeks.
Free and confidential HIV tests are available at the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, 2400 Troost Suite 2100 Kansas City, MO. 64108. Testing is performed Monday-Friday 8:00am- 4:00pm.
For more information about HIV tests, contact the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department at 816-513-6117.
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