A fourth-generation test that detects HIV antigen and antibodies together for earlier diagnosis.
This is a combined HIV screening test. It looks at the same blood sample for two things at once: antibodies your immune system makes against HIV-1 and HIV-2, and a viral protein called p24 antigen that appears very early in an infection.
Because it checks for both the antigen and antibodies, this is often called a fourth-generation HIV test. It can detect infection sooner than tests that look for antibodies alone.
HIV testing is the only reliable way to know your status. Many people with HIV feel completely well for years, so symptoms are not a guide. Knowing early means treatment can start early, which protects your health and prevents passing the virus to others.
A negative result is reassuring for the period covered by the test window. A reactive (positive) screening result does not by itself confirm HIV. It means the sample needs confirmatory testing before any diagnosis is made.
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 antigen or antibodies detected |
| Reactive | Needs confirmatory testing before any diagnosis |
A reactive screen is not a diagnosis. Confirmation follows a defined laboratory algorithm. Ranges and cutoffs are set by the assay and may vary by laboratory.
You learn whether the screen is negative or reactive. A negative result means no HIV antigen or antibodies were found at this time. A reactive result is a signal to do confirmatory testing, not a diagnosis on its own. If you had a possible exposure in the last few weeks, your clinician may suggest repeat testing because very recent infection can be missed.
Very recent infection can be missed because antigen and antibodies take time to rise after exposure, known as the window period. Rare false-reactive results can happen, which is why a reactive screen always needs confirmation. Fasting and time of day do not affect the result.
Read alongside any confirmatory HIV testing if the screen is reactive, and with your exposure history and the timing of any possible exposure.
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