Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic – HIV Testing Singapore

HIV Testing Singapore / HIV Screening Singapore

Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic is an approved Anonymous HIV Test (AHT) Clinic by the Ministry of Health Singapore.

TYPES OF HIV TESTS AVAILABLE AND WHEN TO TEST FOR HIV

Consultation charges for rapid HIV testing is from $25. All prices subject to prevailing GST.

At Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic, you can have your HIV test done anonymously without having to provide your personal identifiable details. The anonymous HIV testing is open to all patients regardless of race or nationality.

Below is a recommended timing and schedule for HIV testing and a list of HIV tests provided by our clinic.

Recommended timing and schedule for HIV testing
Time from Exposure Recommended HIV Test Time to results Price Remarks
Less than 3 days or 72 hours No testing is available at this stage.

You may wish to consider HIV PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) if you have had a high risk exposure, i.e. unprotected sex with a commercial sex worker or high risk contact, or needlestick injury from a IV drug abuser.

     HIV PEP was shown to be >80% effective in reducing risk of HIV infection. In animal studies, it was shown that the earlier (<24 hrs) PEP is started, the more effective it is, with prevention rates reaching almost 100%.
10 – 14 days HIV RNA/DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test 1 – 2 weeks $600 The HIV Viral PCR test looks for the presence of the actual HIV virus which will indicate positive infection by HIV.

It can be performed in combination with other HIV antigen and antibody tests for greater accuracy and confirmation.
14 – 28 days
(2 – 4 weeks)		 HIV P24 Antigen/Antibody Combo Rapid Test (Fingerprick) 20 min $85 Recommended by UK Guidelines in HIV Testing 2008 – conclusive at 28 days post exposure.

4th generation. Fingerprick blood test.

Anonymous testing available.
12 weeks HIV-1/2 Antibody Rapid Test (Saliva/Fingerprick) 20 min $55 Results for HIV Antibody tests are 90% accurate at 1 month post exposure and >99% accurate at 3 months post exposure.

3rd generation. Oral saliva and fingerprick blood.

Anonymous testing available.

Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic – HIV Testing Singapore

HOW DO THE HIV TESTS WORK?

An HIV infection causes the body to produce antibodies (an immunological response by the body to fight infection). These antibodies can be picked up by HIV tests to indicate the presence of HIV infection in the person.

There are two main ways in which this can be done:

HIV blood tests and HIV rapid tests diagnose infection through detecting the presence of antibodies against HIV in the human body.

Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic – HIV Testing Singapore

WHAT IS THE HIV WINDOW PERIOD?

The window period is the time between your exposure to the infection and the detection of the HIV infection if you have been infected. The window period for HIV can be up to 3 months in most cases, sometimes longer if the immune system is affected.

HIV tests performed within the window period (less than 3 months) may not be conclusive and a repeat test may be necessary. You may take the test earlier than 3 months but a repeat test is usually advised, 3 months after exposure.

Other STD Testing Services at Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic

Testing for STD/STI – Our STD/HIV clinic provides a full range of STD and STI testing services which can be done at the same time as the HIV testing. Please see here for a full list of STD testing and screening profiles. HIV and STD tests can be customized to suit your risk profile. We would also recommend testing for other common STDs or STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Testing for HIV – We offer a full range of HIV testing as well as rapid and fast HIV tests, either by oral saliva swab or by fingerprick blood. Results in 20 minutes!

Prevention of HIV – If you have had a recent high risk exposure (less than 72 hours), you may wish to consider HIV PEP or HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis, which may help to prevent HIV transmission and potentially save your life!

Prevention of STD – We offer vaccination against Hepatitis virus and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Please call 64433101, SMS 96622880 or email info@tanjongpagarclinic.com for more information.

INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF HIV TESTS

TYPES OF HIV TESTING

The diagnosis of HIV infection is made by the detection of circulating antibodies to HIV.

Antibodies are identified by the use of a screening test, usually an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by definitive diagnosis using a Western Blot assay. HIV antibody is detectable in at least 95% of patients within 3 months after infection.

In some situations where measurement of HIV antibodies may be unreliable, diagnosis of infection may be through direct detection of HIV itself such as quantification of plasma HIV RNA, HIV viral DNA, or HIV antigen or by detection and amplification of virus in a tissue culture.

Screening HIV Antibody tests

The ELISA or EIA test is the standard screening test for HIV infection. The presence of these antibodies is then detected by a second anti-human antibody, with a sensitivity of >99.5%.

A positive ELISA test is usually observed within 3-6 weeks following infection. The weeks between infection and seropositivity are termed the “window period” and are associated with high levels of circulating HIV, and potentially more efficient transmission.

False-positive test results are rare and the specificity of the ELISA is >99.8%.

Confirmatory HIV Tests

The Western Blot is the definitive diagnostic test for HIV infection.

The Western Blot (WB) assay detects antibodies in patient sera that react with a number of different viral proteins. A positive WB is defined by the detection of antibodies to all of the 3 main groups of HIV proteins.

An indeterminate WB assay is most commonly caused by the presence of unrelated antibodies that are cross-reactive with HIV proteins. It is possible that an indeterminate result is due to early HIV infection and incomplete evolution of the anti-HIV immune response. An indeterminate test result should be repeated at 1, 2 and 3 months to exclude an evolving pattern.

Using both EIA and WB tests, the sensitivity and specificity exceed 99.9%.

Antibody testing can be performed on individuals approximately 1 month after a high-risk sexual exposure. If negative, the test should be repeated again 3 months (window period) after the exposure.

RAPID HIV TESTS

Rapid tests are screening tests where results are available in 20 minutes. If performed correctly, they detect HIV antibodies with sensitivities similar to currently available EIAs.

A negative rapid HIV test result requires no further confirmatory testing. A positive test requires confirmation by both EIA and WB testing.

Rapid HIV tests are approved by Health Science Authority Singapore and are available at our clinic:

  • Determine Alere HIV Combo Antigen/Antibody Test
  • Determine Alere HIV-1/HIV-2 Rapid Test kit

HIV p24 antigen detection

The first marker to appear following infection is free viral p24 antigen. This can be detected using an EIA test.

Fourth generation HIV serology tests incorporate testing for both antibodies as well as for the p24 antigen, therefore reducing the window period further.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) HIV test

PCR for HIV DNA is available for very early testing in high risk exposures and in special circumstances e.g. in cases where the WB test is indeterminate in a patient with high-risk behaviour. – HIV Test Singapore

Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic – HIV Testing Singapore

HIV Testing Singapore – Need for Disclosure

Disclosure is required in Singapore for the following:

  • A person with HIV infection is required by law to reveal his health status to the sex partner before sexual activities.
  • A person with HIV infection is required by law to reveal his health status to medical personnels / dentist before any invasive procedures.

A person with HIV infection is encouraged to bring the partner or any other persons at risk of getting the infection (such as mother bringing her baby), for HIV screening.

A person who is HIV positive DOES NOT require to have his health status revealed to anyone else (including employers or relatives) because under the current law governing communicable diseases, the identity of the person infected with HIV is protected and unauthorised disclosure of health information is prohibited, to prevent the exposure of identity.

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Other Services Available

STDHIVVACCINATIONGENERALSTATUTORYMEN’S HEALTHWOMEN’S HEALTH
STD TESTING AND SCREENINGHIV TESTING AND SCREENINGHPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS) VACCINATIONACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASESLASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY (LPA)HAIR LOSS
ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA		MENSTRUAL REGULATION
STD EXPRESS TESTINGHIV PEP (POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS)HEPATITIS VACCINATIONHEALTH SCREENING
ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVE (AMD)ERECTILE DYSFUNCTIONCONTRACEPTION
REGULAR AND EMERGENCY
STD SELF TESTINGANONYMOUS HIV TESTINGTRAVEL VACCINATIONSKIN AND ACNE

CRYSTAL TOMATO

FOREIGN WORKER MEDICAL EXAMPREMATURE EJACULATIONPAP SMEAR
STD TREATMENTADULT AND CHILD VACCINATIONWEIGHT LOSS AND MANAGEMENTDRIVING LICENSE MEDICAL EXAMANDROPAUSE
TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY
TELECONSULTATION
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