Testing is a very important tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Regular testing, as a routine part of personal healthcare, can significantly help reduce the number of new infections. Also, the sooner a person finds out he or she is living with HIV, the better the options for treatment and healthy lifestyle choices.
The HIV Antibody Test, sometimes called an "AIDS Test", is a simple blood test. It usually takes 7 to 10 days to receive the results from a laboratory. Results, whether positive or negative, are not generally given over the phone. A person must ask to be tested for HIV antibodies. It is not done automatically when you give blood during a physical examination. You must also give your consent to be tested.
An HIV Antibody Test is done free of charge (there may be a fee if the test is for a non-medical reason, such as getting life insurance or a foreign work visa). Some places, such as the STD Clinic listed below, do not require a personal or provincial health number.
An important note about testing! Many people think that if they get a test and it comes out negative, they don't have HIV and can't give it to a partner. This is not necessarily true.
In fact, a test that is done too soon may give a false result – and a false sense of security.
The test does not detect the virus. Instead, it measures the antibodies in your blood that your body makes to fight disease. It can take up to six months for your body to make these antibodies. At that point, the tests are more than 99% accurate. This six month timeframe is called a window period.
A positive test means that antibodies have been found in the blood and HIV is in the body. The test cannot tell when you became infected or if and when you will get sick. It only tells you that you have the virus.
If a person is tested before the antibodies show up, the test will be negative. If you are thinking about getting a test, remember that being tested too soon may give a false result.
Testing is available through a doctor's office or the following:
The HIV Antibody Test, sometimes called an "AIDS Test", is a simple blood test. It usually takes 7 to 10 days to receive the results from a laboratory. Results, whether positive or negative, are not generally given over the phone. A person must ask to be tested for HIV antibodies. It is not done automatically when you give blood during a physical examination. You must also give your consent to be tested.
An HIV Antibody Test is done free of charge (there may be a fee if the test is for a non-medical reason, such as getting life insurance or a foreign work visa). Some places, such as the STD Clinic listed below, do not require a personal or provincial health number.
An important note about testing! Many people think that if they get a test and it comes out negative, they don't have HIV and can't give it to a partner. This is not necessarily true.
In fact, a test that is done too soon may give a false result – and a false sense of security.
The test does not detect the virus. Instead, it measures the antibodies in your blood that your body makes to fight disease. It can take up to six months for your body to make these antibodies. At that point, the tests are more than 99% accurate. This six month timeframe is called a window period.
A positive test means that antibodies have been found in the blood and HIV is in the body. The test cannot tell when you became infected or if and when you will get sick. It only tells you that you have the virus.
If a person is tested before the antibodies show up, the test will be negative. If you are thinking about getting a test, remember that being tested too soon may give a false result.
Testing is available through a doctor's office or the following:
- Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic (confidential and anonymous testing available)
- Safeworks (confidential and anonymous testing available)
- Anonymous testing is where the results are linked to the person being tested by a code or alias known only to them. Neither the nurse/doctor ordering the test nor anyone else knows the identity of the patient. Only the test results and any demographic information provided are reported to public health authorities.
- Confidential (or non-nominal) testing is where the results can be linked to the person being tested. The nurse/doctor knows the identity of the person being tested, but keeps it confidential. The name of the person testing positive is not reported to public health authorities, only the test results and any demographic information provided.
- Nominal testing is testing where the results are linked to the person being tested by a name. Full personal information, test results and any demographic information provided are reported to public health authorities.