Over 136,000 people are on HIV PrEP a drug used to prevent HIV infection. However, populations at the highest risk of infection have lower access to the drug.
Continue readingOver 120,000 People in the US Using PrEP Since 2012
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Continue readingDifferent Types of HIV Testing
The human immunodeficiency virus is one of the scariest things that you can possibly deal with. It used to be a death sentence, but new medications and treatments have made it so that people with HIV can live full and happy lives. The key, is finding out whether or not you’re infected. It’s extremely important to seek out the help of a doctor or clinic as soon as you believe that you’ve been exposed.
The sooner you can start treatment, the better you can avoid the negative effects of the virus. It also allows you to prolong your life, and to make lifestyle choices that are healthier. You want to make sure that you’re not exposing any loved ones to the virus on accident. Regardless of the reasoning, it’s extremely important to find out whether or not you’ve been infected as quickly as possible.
There are several different tests that can determine the presence of the virus. Many of them come with different implications, and work in different Windows of time.
They allow you to know whether or not you’ve been infected fairly quickly, and can tell you just how advanced the infection is. It’s important to begin treating it while it’s still in the HIV stage, before it has developed into the acquired immunodeficiency virus. Once it has become active, it becomes much more difficult to treat.
This is only part of the reason why it’s so important to get tested as soon as possible. You also want to make sure that you don’t inadvertently pass the virus on to people that you care about. You also need to understand if you have any particular limitations that are going to be dictated by your health in the future. This will help you to be able to plan, and to make medical Arrangements based on the kind of treatment that you’re going to require. HIV can definitely be treated and kept at Bay for decades. It’s just very important to make sure that you start the treatment as early as possible. There are several different kinds of HIV tests you need to consider:
OraQuick Rapid HIV Testing
This is a test that can be done fairly cheaply and at home. You can purchase it for less than $100, and you can take it home to view the results the same day. All it requires is an oral swab that can be read at home. It takes less than 20 minutes to discover whether or not you are HIV-positive, and to decide how you’re going to deal with it from there. It’s always a good idea to consult with a doctor whether the results are positive or negative. This way you can be certain that you’re dealing with things in an appropriate way.
HIV DNA Testing
This test searches for the presence of the HIV virus as it adheres to your DNA. It can detect the presence of the virus much faster than traditional testing methods, this is one reason why it’s also much more expensive. HIV DNA testing is made to detect the presence of the virus anywhere from two to six weeks after it’s been contracted. Sometimes, it can detect it even earlier. It doesn’t wait for your antibodies to be present. This is probably one of the most accurate tests you can find, and is generally used when you’re fairly certain that you’ve been exposed.
HIV Western Blot Test
This test takes a blood sample and separates the proteins in the blood. Then the blood is applied to a special kind of paper that reacts to the presence of HIV. The Western blot test is very accurate, and can be done at a reasonable price.
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