Do you know your status? When is the last time you’ve been tested? There are several types of HIV testing methods. The two most popular tests are the blood and oral tests which each test for the presence of HIV antibodies. The blood test takes about 2 weeks to come back with results and the oral test results come back in about 20 minutes.
It normally takes three months after the last possible exposure to HIV before a person will test positive. If a test comeback positive, antibodies to HIV were detected. It does not mean you have AIDS or that you will get sick right away. Your health care professional may recommend additional tests to rule out any false positives. Even there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, many opportunistic infections can be prevented or treated.
However, negative test results do not necessarily rule out HIV infection, because there is a window period between HIV infection and the appearance of HIV antibodies. If you have engaged in risky activities, it is important to be re-tested every three months. In 2006, nearly half of HIV-positive adolescents were unaware of their infection. In North Carolina there are many places such as hospitals, health clinics or health departments to get tested. Many of these places provide counselors to take you through the process of getting tested. and everything is kept completely confidential.
