Tuesday, March 19, 2024

How Accurate Are Rapid Hiv Tests

What Are The Rapid Hiv Test Options

Is rapid HIV testing more accurate than ELISA? – Dr. Ramakrishna Prasad

In the past, the only way to get tested for HIV was to go to a doctors office, hospital, or community health center. Now there are options for taking an HIV test in the privacy of ones own home.

Some HIV tests, whether taken at home or at a health facility, are even able to deliver results within 30 minutes. These are known as rapid tests.

Study Shows That Some Tests Fall Short In Early Infection

As the United States aims to increase early diagnosis and treatment of people with HIV, a greater focus has been placed on determining the accuracy of HIV tests in real-world settingsnot only to minimize the number of false positive or negative test results but to better identify people during the early stages of infection when the risk of transmission is especially high.

In order to do this, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco conducted a review of over 21,000 HIV tests performed between the years 2003 and 2008 in some of the city’s high prevalence populations.

Of four types of tests used during this periodfrom first generation antibody tests to rapid oral tests761 people were diagnosed with HIV , while 58 were identified during acute infection.

The study also aimed to compare the accuracy of newer testing assaysincluding 4th generation antigen/antibody testsby retesting the blood from the 58 people previously diagnosed with acute HIV infection.

The accuracy was measured both in terms of sensitivity and specificity .

Test Type
87.3%

Different Types Of Tests

Self-tests are usually modified versions of rapid, point-of-care test kits that were originally designed for healthcare professionals. Their processes, packaging and instructions have been simplified so as to guide you through the steps of taking a test.

With some tests, you use a lancet to release a small quantity of blood from a fingerprick. Other tests require a sample of oral fluid, obtained by swabbing an absorbent pad around the outer gums, adjacent to the teeth.

Self-tests may be second- or third-generation HIV tests. They are only able to detect HIV antibodies, whereas the fourth-generation HIV tests which are normally used by healthcare professionals are also able to detect p24 antigen . Fourth-generation tests are therefore better at picking up recent infections.

Second- and third-generation tests can accurately detect chronic HIV infection. But their ability to detect recently acquired HIV is more variable.

Their window periods are a little longer than for other tests. The window period is the time immediately after infection when tests may not detect markers of infection and therefore give a false negative result.

Find out more: Home HIV testing

sensitivity

When using a diagnostic test, the probability that a person who does have a medical condition will receive the correct test result .

Don’t Miss: How Long Do Hiv Results Take

Where Can People Find Free Hiv Testing Locations

The CDC maintains a list of HIV testing locations for people who want to find out whether they have contracted the virus. This National HIV and STD Testing Resource can be accessed at . This site includes the ability to search for free testing locations as well as locations that provide rapid tests. Some clinics only provide HIV testing. However, sexually transmitted diseases clinics routinely provide HIV testing along with testing for diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and herpes.

What Happens If I Test Positive

How accurate is the rapid oral HIV test?

If the result from an initial HIV test is positive, a healthcare provider will order follow-up testing to learn if the result is accurate.

If the first test was conducted at home, a healthcare provider will draw a sample of blood to test in a lab. If the first test was done in a lab, follow-up testing may be conducted on the same blood sample at the lab.

If the second test result is positive, a healthcare provider can help explain the treatment options for HIV. Early diagnosis and treatment can help improve the long-term outlook and reduce the chances of developing complications from HIV.

You May Like: Is Hiv Transmitted Through Sperm

Hiv Testing: How Accurate Are At

If you believe you may have HIV , a range of tests are easily available and highly accurate in detecting the virus that causes AIDS.

HIV is a type of virus that attacks the immune system, interfering with the bodys ability to fight off infection or disease. Sometimes, HIV leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS.

Approximately 1.1 million people have HIV in the United States, and it is one of the worlds most pressing public health issues. In 2019, it was reported that approximately 37.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2018.

One of the main obstacles doctors face in reducing the rate of HIV infection is a lack of awareness and access to testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, in 2018, nearly 38,000 people in the United States and six of its territories were diagnosed with HIV. The agency says that about 40 percent of new infections are transmitted by people who are unaware that they have HIV.

As a result, the CDC is attempting to make testing more widely available outside the standard medical settings.

What Is A False Negative Test Result

A false negative test result occurs when the test shows negative and the person is really HIV positive.

This is very rare and usually occurs during the window period when people are newly infected but the test cant quite pick up the infection.

As with other types of tests, there is always be a small margin of error. With antibody-only tests only 0.3% of tests will be a false negative after 3 months.

With 4th generation tests this is even lower. In practice, a negative result after six weeks means you do not have HIV.

You do not need to test again unless you have new risks in the future.

You May Like: Can You Catch Hiv From Oral

Now Also Offering Prep

PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and is a daily medicine that greatly reduces the chances of contracting HIV for high-risk people. Daily PrEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90% and reduces the risk of getting HIV from injected drugs by 70%.

Want to learn if you’re a good candidate for PrEP? Give us a call at 1-866-476-1321.

Its All In The Timing

How Accurate Is The Rapid HIV Test

If you had unprotected sex and are experiencing anxiety over the potential consequences, rest assured that this is normal. But dont assume that you contracted HIV or another sexually transmitted disease. Instead, focus on the steps you can take to give yourself peace of mind.

Many people rush out to get tested right away. But due to the window period, patience is important when it comes to HIV testing. As a general rule, HIV tests are most accurate about a month after exposure. However, note that the window period can vary from two weeks to six months, so it is very important to get in touch with your doctor as soon as possible to find out when its best for you to be tested.

Its important to remember that you may need to get tested for HIV more than once. Any time you think you may have been exposed to the virus, you should be tested again. Your doctor can help you figure out how often you should be tested.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Hiv Aids Rate In The United States

How Accurate Is The Rapid Hiv Test

The Rapid HIV Test is very accurate in excluding HIV infection. If the test is undertaken outside the window period of 3 months, a negative test confirms that you have not been exposed to the HIV virus. Occasionally, the test may yield a false reactive result. This is when the test is reactive but you have not been infected with the HIV virus. For this reason, all reactive results have to be confirmed using a standard laboratory blood test.

If you want to be tested please make a book with us.

Is Hiv Testing Necessary For Pregnant Women

HIV testing is critically important for pregnant women. HIV testing is recommended at the beginning of each pregnancy during prenatal care. If any HIV risk factors are present or there is a high incidence of HIV in the population, testing should be repeated in the third trimester. There have been enormous advances in the treatment of HIV-infected pregnant women. With proper management, the probability of transmitting the virus to the fetus is less than 2%. Without proper management, the risk of transmission is as high as 33%. Because undiagnosed HIV is so common, it is necessary to test all pregnant women. It is strongly recommended that all children born to women with HIV also be tested.

You May Like: Can You Take Prep If You Are Hiv Positive

What Is The Cost Of A Rapid Hiv Test

Prices may be different in different parts of the country. The SUDS test kit usually costs $6 to $10, which is more expensive than an EIA. However, the EIA requires expensive equipment and rapid HIV tests do not. Additional costs such as a laboratory or a laboratory technician’s time for conducting the tests should also be considered. Rapid HIV tests are simpler to perform and require fewer specialized skills than does an EIA.

Do You Need An Hiv Test

Is rapid HIV testing more accurate than ELISA?

In a word, yes. Everyone does. The CDC recommends that everyone 13 to 64 years old undergo HIV testing at least one time.

People with specific risk factors should be tested more often, including:

  • Men who have been sexually active with other men
  • People who have engaged in vaginal or anal sex with a partner who is HIV positive
  • People who have had more than one sex partner since their last HIV test
  • People who have shared needles used for tattoos or body piercings
  • People who have injected drugs or have shared needles or other drug-use items, such as water or cotton, with others
  • Those who have accepted drugs or money in exchange for offering sex
  • People who have been diagnosed with other sexually transmitted diseases
  • Those who have been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis or tuberculosis
  • People who have had sex with a person who has at least one of the above risk factors
  • People who have had sex with someone with an unknown sexual history
  • People who have been sexually assaulted the test should be taken as soon after the assault as possible

Read Also: Can You Get Hiv From Dried Blood

The Accuracy Of Different Rapid Tests

A wide range of point-of-care tests have been manufactured in many countries, but only a few of them have been subject to rigorous, independent evaluations, and even fewer are marketed in the UK. Research on HIV tests is only occasionally published in medical journals. Informally, laboratory professionals may have insights into which tests perform best.

It is important to verify that any test used is CE marked. This should mean that the test conforms to European health and safety legislation, although it does not necessarily mean that test performance has been independently evaluated.

There are variations in accuracy from one test to another, with some older tests that are not usually marketed in the UK having a sub-optimal sensitivity and specificity. However, evaluations by the World Health Organization of several rapid diagnostic tests that either have CE marks or are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration , indicate that most are extremely accurate. The key measures of accuracy are sensitivity and specificity .

Of note, in the World Health Organization data below, the tests were performed with samples of plasma or serum. However, the tests are less sensitive when testing whole blood sampled from a finger prick. Moreover, the blood was taken from people who had chronic HIV infection, but the tests are less accurate in cases of recent infection.

Test

99.9%

“All HIV tests need to have reactive results confirmed with further tests.”

How Accurate Are Hiv Tests

HIV tests are very accurate. Once confirmatory testing has been performed, the chance of a positive result being false is essentially zero.

Sensitivity and specificity

Sensitivity and specificity are measures of the accuracy of an HIV test.

Sensitivity is the chance that a positive test result will correctly indicate that a person has HIV. This means that if the person has HIV, the test will detect it. Higher sensitivity means there is a lower chance of a false-negative result .

Specificity is the chance that a negative test result will correctly indicate that a person does not have HIV. This means that if the person does not have HIV, the test result will be negative. Higher specificity means there is a lower chance of a false-positive result .

HIV screening tests used in Canada all have a sensitivity of up to 99.9%. In other words, if 1,000 HIV-positive people were tested for HIV, 999 would correctly test positive and one would incorrectly test negative. High sensitivity is ideal for a screening test because it effectively rules out people who dont have HIV . Since the vast majority of people who get tested for HIV are actually HIV negative, the chance of a negative result being false is extremely low.

The Geenius assay has a specificity of 100%. This means that the chance of a false-positive result after confirmatory testing is essentially zero.

References

Knowles Z

Also Check: Can You Get Hiv Through Saliva

Are Confirmatory Tests Necessary For A Rapid Hiv Test Result To Be Considered A Diagnosis Of Hiv Infection

As is true of current EIA antibody procedure, an initial reactive rapid HIV test result should be confirmed by Western blot or IFA. For persons who test positive by confirmatory testing, CDC and the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors recommend that the test sequence be repeated, by using a different sample, to be absolutely certain of the results.

The Worlds Fastest Hiv Test

Rapid HIV Test Accuracy 90 Days After Exposure

INSTI® HIV Self Test is designed as a single-use at home HIV test kit that allows you to get results in the comfort of your home and at a time that works best for you. Sample, pour and read your results immediately. Its that easy.

The test uses simple flow-through technology to detect HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies using a drop of human fingerstick blood. The test is intended for use by untrained lay users as a self test to aid in the diagnosis of HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection using a small drop of blood obtained through fingerstick collection procedures.

You May Like: When To Get Tested For Hiv

Does The Rapid Hiv Test Cost More Than The Eia

Yes. The individual kit is more costly then the per-test cost of the EIA. EIA testing was designed for the automated processing of tests in batches However, an analysis done in 1996 by Dr. Paul Farnham and his colleagues at CDC indicated that rapid HIV testing is more cost-effective than the current EIA-based system, because of the number of persons who actually learn their results. In other words, although EIA is less expensive, it is a waste of money to perform lab tests if the person tested never learns the test result, if two clinic visits are required to get test results, or if the clinic has to send field staff to locate people for test results. Since an EIA does not yield immediate results, most people must make a second visit to learn their results. Experience at publicly funded testing sites has shown that many persons do not return for their test results.

Are People Able To Understand Test Instructions And Use Self

A review identified 25 studies in which people used self-tests, with their results compared with those of a healthcare worker testing them at the same time. The original studies were done in a mix of North American, African, European and Asian countries. Fifteen studies used oral fluid-based tests, six used blood-based tests and four used both oral and blood specimens. Of note, several studies were evaluating professional assays that had not been adapted for use as self-tests performance could be better in commercially marketed tests.

The researchers found that most people could reliably and accurately use rapid tests. Using a statistical approach known as Cohens kappa in which 1 represents perfect agreement between the results of a self-tester and a trained health worker and less than 1 represents less than perfect agreement, results were highly concordant. The Cohens kappa was 0.98 in studies in which users first received a demonstration of how to do the self-test or to interpret its result. In studies in which this was not provided, it was 0.97. This means that in only a small minority of cases the self-tester and the healthcare worker got results that were different from each other.

Basic information on testing

Also Check: How Long Do Hiv Symptoms Last

Dried Blood Spot Test

A DBS test is a free, accurate and convenient way to test for HIV in the comfort and privacy of your home.

It involves collecting a few drops of blood from your finger and allowing the blood to dry on a test card. You then send the card away to get tested and wait around a week to get the result back. You can register for a DBS HIV test here.

What Are The Different Types Of Hiv Testing

Are Home Tests For Hiv Accurate

There are three main types of HIV tests: antibody tests, RNA tests, and a combination test that detects both antibodies and viral protein called p24 . All tests are designed to detect HIV-1, which is the type of HIV in the United States. Some antibody tests and the combination test can also detect HIV-2 infections, which are usually limited to West Africa. No test is perfect tests may be falsely positive or falsely negative or impossible to interpret .

Positive test results are reportable to the health department in all 50 states and include the patient’s name. This information is then reported to the CDC so that the epidemiology and infection spread rates can be monitored. The names sent to the state remain confidential and will not be reported to employers, family members, or other such people. Some states allow anonymous testing in which the patient’s name is not recorded.

HIV antibody tests: HIV possesses many unique proteins on its surface and inside the virus itself. When someone is infected with HIV, their body produces proteins designed to tag the virus for elimination by the immune system. These proteins are called antibodies, and they are directed against the unique proteins of HIV. Unfortunately, these HIV antibodies do not eliminate the virus, but their presence serves as a marker to show that someone is infected with HIV. HIV antibody tests are the most commonly used tests to determine if someone has HIV.

Also Check: How Can You Catch Hiv

Popular Articles
Related news