This Month's HIV/AIDS Facts
These facts contain commonly accepted public health information about the prevention and transmission of HIV and AIDS. If this is not the information that you are seeking, please use the Back button on your browser to visit another section of our site. Thank you.
Question: How do you test for AIDS?
Basic Answer:
AIDS (a result of HIV
infection) is caused by a
virus (HIV). The standard
test today does not test for
the actual virus; instead,
the test checks for
antibodies to HIV.
Detailed Answer:
AIDS (a result of HIV infection) is caused by a virus
(HIV). The standard test for HIV--
- Analyzes samples of blood, urine or fluid from the mouth.
- Detects antibodies to HIV, not the virus itself.
Some people may question how urine and fluid from the
mouth can be tested for HIV, yet are not able to infect someone
with HIV. It is highly unlikely that the urine or saliva of a
person with HIV could spread HIV unless it contains visible
blood.
Antibodies are substances the body makes to defend itself
when it is invaded by germs such as HIV. People who have
antibodies to HIV most likely have been infected with HIV.
Some people who have participated in a clinical trial to test an
HIV vaccine may have HIV antibodies, but are not infected with
the virus. The only way to distinguish between these people
and people who have HIV is to use a test that looks for the
virus itself.
SOURCES:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR, 2001; vol. 50, no. RR-19. "Revised Guidelines for HIV
Counseling, Testing, and Referral."
- DeVita, V., Jr., et al., eds. AIDS: Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention, 4th ed. 1997.
- Journal of the American Medical Association, 1997; vol. 277, no. 3. "Evaluation of a System Using Oral
Mucosal Transudate for HIV-1 Antibody Screening and Confirmatory Testing." Gallo, D., et al.
For current statistics, contact the CDC National AIDS Hotline (800/342-AIDS), Spanish (800/344-7432), TTY/TDD (800/243-7889); the CDC Voice and Fax Information System (888/232-3228); the CDC National Prevention Information Network (800/458-5231) or its Web site at www.cdcnpin.org; or the CDC HIV/AIDS Web site at www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm.
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