How to Prepare for an HIV Test: A Step-by-Step Guide

The greatest action that you can take in the fight against HIV/AIDS is getting yourself tested. HIV screening is the only way to know whether you are positive or negative for the virus. Getting tested for HIV empowers you to make big decisions for you and your partner’s health. If an individual turns out to be HIV positive, they can take effective measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and if the test results are negative, they can learn how to keep themselves from contracting the virus. In this article, we will learn everything about HIV screening, its types, and how you can prepare yourself for an HIV test. 

What is an HIV Test?

HIV testing determines if a person has contracted the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV can be transmitted from one person to another by the exchange of body fluids. It can happen during sex, blood transfusions, childbirth, via breastfeeding, or when sharing needles. HIV, in some but not all cases, can lead to a life-threatening condition, AIDS. 

HIV screening must be done as soon as possible because the sooner you know about the virus, the sooner you can receive treatment. HIV treatments prevent the virus from replicating in your body and can prevent you from developing AIDS, the final and the most serious form of the disease. It is worth mentioning that an HIV test can detect your HIV status but cannot tell how long you have had the infection or whether you have AIDS. 

What Are the Different Types of HIV Tests?

Current protocols for HIV testing are reliable and provide accurate results regarding your HIV status. Here are the different types of HIV tests:

1. Antigen / Antibody Tests

This is the most common type of HIV screening that detects HIV antigens and antibodies present in your blood. An antigen is a part of the virus that triggers your immune system to fight against HIV. Once the HIV antigen enters your body, your immune system starts synthesizing HIV antibodies. Antigens appear in your body before antibodies. If you are positive for the antigen, the test also checks for antibodies. Some types of antigen/antibody tests include:

• Rapid Tests: Such tests use a drop of blood from your finger to check for HIV infection within 18 days to three months of being infected. 
• Lab Tests: These involve taking a blood sample from a vein and can be done within 18 to 45 days after you are infected. 

2. Nucleic Acid Test (NAT)

For NATs, also known as viral load tests, a blood sample is taken from your vein and tested in a laboratory. These tests are faster than antigen tests and can be used 10 to 33 days post-infection. Nucleic acid tests are expensive and are usually not used for regular screening. You can go for an NAT as soon as you start noticing symptoms, such as fever, rash, sores in the mouth, and swollen lymph nodes, after being exposed to HIV.

Steps to Prepare for an HIV Test

You can prepare yourself for HIV testing by following these simple steps:

1. Make an Appointment

Preparing for HIV testing starts with booking an appointment with your general health practitioner. Some healthcare facilities allow walk-in checkups, but the best way is to book an appointment. Use the internet to find the nearest HIV screening lab in your area. Many states offer free HIV tests but charge a consultation fee. 

If you cannot go for an appointment, consider ordering a self-test kit. With a home test, you can test your HIV status on your own and interpret the results as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. If the results are invalid, the test doesn’t work. 

2. Ask Questions

If you are getting tested in a sexual health clinic, you can ask your healthcare practitioner about the risks associated with HIV, the types of tests available, and what to do if the test results are positive. You can also share your worries and concerns. For that, it is recommended to jot down your queries ahead of time. 

3. Provide Your Medical History   

Make sure to share your medical history with the practitioner. If you are suffering from any chronic condition or autoimmune disorder, let your doctor know about it. Knowing your medical history allows the physicians to assess risk factors associated with the disease. These factors include previous exposures, having a blood transfusion, unprotected sexual intercourse, or a large number of sexual partners. Already having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase your risk of contracting HIV. Therefore, make sure to mention your past exposures (if any) to the virus before taking the test. 

4. Stay Calm

Feeling a little nervous before the test is completely fine. Try to soothe your nerves before reaching the testing site. You can listen to your favorite song, talk to your friend, go for a walk, or take some time to relax and calm yourself. Think about it: getting tested for HIV is the best possible way to take care of your sexual health. 

5. Hold Off Peeing Before the Test

You may also need to provide a urine sample for HIV screening. For a urine test, you are provided with a sterile plastic jar, which needs to be about three-quarters full. It is recommended not to urinate at least 20 to 30 minutes before the test so that your bladder is full at the time of the test. In case you find it difficult to resist peeing, avoid drinking plenty of water and try to hold it until the test. 

6. Do Not Eat or Drink Before the Test

The tests involving blood collection do not require any prior preparation. However, you might need to give an oral fluid sample for some home tests. In that case, avoid eating and drinking half an hour before the test. 

What to Do After Getting Test Results

The test results can be positive or negative. Negative results mean that the test did not detect the virus, and positive results mean the test detected HIV.

• If your test result is positive: 

If the test is positive, go for additional testing with your healthcare provider. Ask your doctor about the treatment plan once the diagnosis is confirmed. Treatment for HIV is known as anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and involves taking medicines that help prevent the disease progression. ART allows you to lead a healthy life despite being HIV positive. It is worth mentioning that ART cannot cure HIV, but it lowers the amount of virus in your body to the extent that it becomes undetectable in a test. 

• If your test result is negative: 

If your first test is negative, there is still a chance that you have HIV but got tested too early for it to be detected. For this reason, you should test again after the window period is over. The second test helps confirm the negative result. Even if you are negative for the infection, protect yourself from HIV exposure in the future. Ask your doctor if PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is right for you. With PrEP, you take daily medicine to prevent the risk of HIV. It is proven to reduce the risk of HIV by up to 99%. 

Get Tested for HIV and Take Control of Your Sexual Health!

Getting tested for HIV is one of the best measures you can take to maintain your sexual health. Prepare yourself for getting tested for HIV by taking some simple steps. Book an appointment and write down the questions regarding the infection that you might want to ask your doctor. Share your medical and sexual history, and most importantly, stay calm! Discuss your test results with your healthcare provider to take future action.