An overview of HIV / AIDS |
Can the new oral fluid test detect antibodies to both
HIV-1 and HIV-2 (a variant of HIV that is prevalent in parts
of Africa but rarely found in the United States)?
The OraQuick test is approved to detect antibodies to HIV-1
and HIV–2 when used with blood, oral fluid, and plasma.
Has the test been approved to screen blood donors?
No. The OraQuick test should not be used to screen blood donors.
What about home test kits?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved home-use
HIV test kits, which allow consumers to interpret their own
HIV test results in a few minutes. The Federal Trade Commission
has warned that these home-use HIV test kits, many of which
are available on the Internet, supply inaccurate results.
If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my partner
is HIV negative also?
No. Your HIV test result reveals only your HIV status. Your
negative test result does not tell you whether your partner
has HIV.
HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time there is an
exposure. Therefore, your taking an HIV test should not be
seen as a method to find out if your partner is infected.
Testing should never take the place of protecting yourself
from HIV infection. If your behaviors are putting you at risk
for exposure to HIV, it is important to reduce your risks |
