HIV Testing NYC

HIV signifies human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. Testing for HIV is the only way to know for sure if you have HIV. Many people do not have any signs and can live for many years without knowing they have the virus.

Risk factors for HIV infection include having unprotected sex with someone who is HIV-positive or whose HIV status you don’t know; having sex with many partners; and injecting drugs and distributing needles, syringes, or other drug equipment with others.

What is HIV testing?

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. HIV testing can detect HIV infection, but it can’t tell how long a person has been infected with HIV or if the person has AIDS. Testing for HIV is swift, simple, painless, confidential and almost always free. It is always better to know.

If you test positive, you can take medicine to treat HIV to stay healthy for many years and considerably reduce the chance of transmitting HIV to your sex partner.

If you test negative, you have to be careful for preventing HIV.

If you are pregnant, you can be tested for HIV also that is why you can begin your treatment if you’re an HIV-positive. If an HIV-positive pregnant woman is treated for HIV early in her pregnancy, the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby can be very low.

 

CDC recommends that all pregnant women get tested for HIV as early as possible during each pregnancy.

Significance of HIV Testing for Prevention and Treatment of HIV Infection

People living with HIV who know they are infected can become careful that lower their risk of transmitting HIV to their partner.

Categories of HIV Tests

There are three main categories of HIV tests, which are below here. 

Antibody tests, combination tests aka. Antibody/antigen tests, and nucleic acid tests (NATs). These tests can detect HIV infection which differs sometimes because each and every test has its own different window period. The window period is the time period when a person infected with HIV and when a test can accurately detect HIV infection.

A person’s primary HIV test will be either an antibody test or a combination test aka. Antibody/antigen test. If the primary test result comes out as positive for HIV infection, then other follow-up testing will be done to make sure that the diagnosis is correct. If the primary test result is negative and the test was done during the window period, other follow-up tests and re-testing should be done 3 months after the possible exposure to HIV. See also about hiv testing https://www.parkmed.com/gynecology/std-testing-a-treatment/hpv.

How long does it take to get the results of an HIV test?

As usual it takes a few days to a few weeks to get results of an HIV test. Some rapid HIV tests can generate results within 30 minutes.

We recommend that every sexually active person or drug addicted person should be get tested for HIV at least once a year. If you identify as a gay or bisexual man, and are currently HIV-negative, we recommend you get tested every 3 - 6 months regardless of your risk behavior. Knowing your HIV status is necessary for your health and the well-being of our entire community.