A screening test for antibodies to HIV types 1 and 2.
This test screens your blood for antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2, the two main types of the human immunodeficiency virus. Antibodies are proteins your immune system makes in response to an infection.
It is an antibody-only screen. Because antibodies take time to develop, this test detects infection slightly later than combined antigen and antibody tests.
Testing is the only way to know your HIV status, since many people stay symptom-free for years. A clear result lets you make informed decisions, and an early diagnosis means treatment can begin sooner, which protects your health and prevents transmission.
A negative result is reassuring for the window the test covers. A reactive result is not a diagnosis. It signals that confirmatory testing is needed.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
This test is reported qualitatively. The expected result for someone without HIV is Negative or Non-reactive.
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Non-reactive (negative) | No HIV antibodies detected |
| Reactive | Needs confirmatory testing before any diagnosis |
A reactive screen is not a diagnosis. Cutoffs are defined by the assay and may vary by laboratory.
You learn whether HIV antibodies were detected. A negative result means none were found at this time. A reactive result means confirmatory testing is the next step. If exposure was recent, repeat testing may be advised because antibodies can take weeks to appear.
Antibodies take time to develop, so very recent infection can be missed during the window period. Rare false-reactive results can occur, which is why a reactive screen always needs confirmation. Fasting and time of day do not affect the result.
Read alongside confirmatory HIV testing if the screen is reactive, and with your exposure history and its timing.
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