A false positive test is when the test result shows positive but the person is really negative. This can happen with antibody tests when the test picks up antibodies for other infectious agents. Approximately 1.5% (15 out of every 1000)…
A false negative test result occurs when the test shows negative and the person is really HIV positive. This is very rare and usually occurs during the window period when people are newly infected but the test can’t quite pick…
HIV tests after the 3 month window are more than 99.97% accurate. They work for all types and subtypes of HIV. Very few medical tests have 100% accuracy. There will still be rare cases where someone is HIV positive and…
This will depend on how recent your last exposure was. As part of good practice, if the exposure was less than three months ago then testing at three months after exposure is usually recommended.
HIV antibody tests are not affected by other circumstances. This includes infections, medications, most vaccinations, putting on weight, eating or drinking anything before the test, use of alcohol or recreational drugs, mouthwash or time of day. Your test result is…
Yes. Modern HIV tests are very accurate. This accuracy has to be considered with the window period. For example, 4th generation tests will pick up 95% of infections at 28 days after exposure. A confirmatory test three months after the…
Your test centre should clearly explain the results of your test. If you have questions that were not explained, or that still worry you, ask the test centre first. Rapid blood tests show two lines if positive or one line…
Rapid HIV tests can give results in 15—60 minutes, or on the same day. ‘Rapid’ refers to the time taken for the results and not the time since exposure that a test can be used. If samples are being sent…
Before taking an HIV test someone at the clinic should explain what is involved. This should include information about the type of test and test accuracy. It should include information about what happens if the results are positive. It is…
The window period is time between potential exposure to HIV infection and the point when the test will give an accurate result. During the window period a person can be infected with HIV and infectious but have a negative HIV…
Anxiety around social care was a commonly discussed topic whilst I was working with older adults living with HIV.
This survey will help promote a new co-produced resource (which was to be my final project at THT!) please share, and take part of you're living with HIV ⤵️
Islatravir implant discontinued? Slow to realise it was "withdrawn for business reasons" Nov 2023 sounds ominous? I wonder if we'll hear more at #CROI2024? I can't find a press release from @Merck but does anyone know for certain? @US_FDA
Join us in a powerful show of support for the Transgender and Non-Binary Community. Human rights are at risk, and we won't stay silent!
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Despite incredible advances made in the treatment of HIV, there is still far too much stigma and misinformation surrounding the subject.
Here are five facts about HIV which are vital to understand.
#UequalsU #CantPassItOn
Yet again #stigmaanddiscrimination rears it's ugly head in one of local hospitals the patient says #ifeelikealeper This is not good enough #HIVstigma #upskillyourknowledge #breakthestigma
