Basics of HIV Testing
There is only one way to know whether you have HIV or not and that is to get yourself tested for it. The medical authorities and according to medicine studies in all, it is recommended that everyone between the age of 13 and 64 should get themselves tested for HIV. Doing it once annually is just fine and it should be marked as one of your medical necessities. Having knowledge about your HIV status give you power over your medical condition and you are capable of looking after yourself in a much better manner. HIV testing is now considered as an important test for human healthcare and doctors usually recommend it to parents and normal individuals too.
BASICS OF HIV TESTING
Here are some very common queries that pop inside human brain when talking about HIV testing. We have solved them down here for everyone who gets confused about anything regarding HIV. Let’s get started.
Which people need to go for HIV Tests?
The very first confusion for people is that do we even need an HIV test or not. Here is a list of queries that you need to ask yourself and if the answer to them is yes, then you need to go through an HIV test:
- Have you had sex with another person?
- Have you had sex with an HIV positive person; vaginal or anal?
- Have you had sex with more than one person?
- Have you had sex with another person who might have had sex before with someone?
If you are indulged in physical activity, then it is best to go for HIV test every year. Moreover, you need to make sure that since you have had sex, even if it was just once, you do keep going for HIV tests. The basic process of it getting passed is sexual connection.
Types of tests for HIV Testing:
This is another basic thing that people do need to know. There are 3 types of HIV tests that you might come across; NAT Test, Antigen Test and Antibodies Test. The NAT is done to look for the actual virus in the blood. Antigen test is done to for the HIV antigens and antibodies. The antibody test is done to look for HIV in your oral fluid or blood.
How to get tested?
Gone are the days when getting tested for HIV was tough. Call any health care provider and you might find someone to take your blood sample right from home too or you can visit your daily routine hospital for the test too.
What does HIV Negative mean?
Many people assume that if they are HIV negative then their partner is too. It is not transmitted every time you get a sexual connection so it does not give confirmation of your partner being an HIV negative too. It is always best to ask your partner (without marriage specially and it is good for married couples to discuss it too) whether they have HIV or not. This helps you in saving a life and it also tends to allow you to secure yourself.
Conclusion:
To conclude it all off, if you find yourself being HIV positive, it is best to share your results with your partner. It is important for them to know. Make sure that you talk it out with them. Moreover, being HIV negative does not confirm that your partner cannot be HIV positive. It is best if you both decide to get yourselves checked before indulging yourself into any sexual relationship.