What is HIV?

HIV, which is known as Human Immune Deficiency Virus and is a sexually transmitted disease causing AIDS. The virus may be passed from one person to another through infected blood and contact of vaginal or semen secretions with the broken skin or mucous membranes of an uninfected person. It also passes to baby through their infected mother during pregnancy or through breast feeding. The people with HIV antibodies are called HIV infection that leads to develop AIDS.

Earlier symptoms of HIV

Earlier symptoms of HIV occur when there is formation of virus from antibodies by your body. It occurs between six months to three months after HIV infection. HIV infected person may show the early symptoms such as flu like illness including,

However, any symptoms amongst these may disappear within a week and won't see any more signs of the infection for long time or at least few years.

How to do HIV Test?

The HIV tests are mean to judge whether you are HIV positive or negative. This process actually measures how the HIV antibodies are in your system. If the person found with HIV antibodies then he is considered to be HIV positive and if the test become negative then it is clear that there is no any HIV antibodies.

The common HIV test is an HIV antibody test in which the blood sample is taken and sent to lab for analysis. People can go through the test in public health office, family planning clinic, doctor's office or some other special place that is placed for HIV testing. The sample of saliva or mouth fluid is also used for HIV tests in United States. Now the HIV tests are available free of costs all over the world.

Now days there are rapid HIV tests are also available. The antibody tests are about 99.5% accurate that gives results within few days or few weeks. The new rapid test gives you the results within 10 to 30 minutes. It is clear that the new rapid method gives accurate and quick results but sometimes it also need to conform through secondary laboratory test.

HIV test is very important to know the status. There are various effective medicines that help to stay well. The test also helps to aware the unknowingly passing of HIV to others. If you have negative test then it helps you to stay without unnecessary worrying.