Medicine does not stand still. Despite this, a medicine has not yet been found that can rid a person of the immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is considered one of the most dangerous pathologies. Currently, the only chance of salvation is the timely detection of the pathogen.
The detection of a pathogen at an early stage allows you to take all measures to maintain the body. Below is information on how HIV tests are called correctly, how to prepare for them, which can affect the end result.
Indications
Laboratory studies are prescribed without fail in the following cases:
- The man has been sexually abused.
- A sharp and significant decrease in body weight for no apparent reason. The loss of a large number of kilograms, as a rule, indicates a pathology. HIV is far from the last in the list of possible diseases.
- Some time ago, a person underwent medical manipulations, but he is afraid that the instruments were not properly sterilized.
- Maintaining a promiscuous life without using a condom.
- A regular sexual partner is infected.
- The presence of sexually transmitted diseases.
- During pregnancy.
- As part of annual preventive examinations.
- Before registration in a hospital.
In addition, each person can have a blood test for HIV, the name of which depends on the chosen method, if he has suspicions that he might be infected. For example, if he is concerned about various kinds of disturbing symptoms.
General blood analysis
It is important to understand that there is no one generally accepted study. Each laboratory uses different techniques. Therefore, people interested in what is called a blood test for HIV should first find out in what way the biological material will be studied.
A general study of biomaterial is not specific. But its results can give an unambiguous answer whether further diagnostics are necessary.
The following indicators are clinically significant:
- White blood cells. These cells are directly involved in the formation of the immune response. In HIV-infected people, the white blood cell count is significantly deviated from the norm.
- Platelets and hemoglobin. These indicators of a blood test for HIV are significantly reduced.
- ESR This indicator in the presence of the virus in the body increases significantly.
Upon receipt of unsatisfactory results, more specific studies are prescribed.
Express test
As biological material can be used not only blood, but also urine, saliva. In this case, a study can be done both in laboratory and at home.
What is the name of a blood test for HIV? Rapid testing for immunodeficiency virus. The result can be obtained in an hour. Special test strips are available at the pharmacy. But their results are not 100% accurate.
Doctors do not recommend taking biomaterial for an express test earlier than 3 months after the alleged infection.
IFA
What is the name of a blood test for HIV in this case? The abbreviation ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It is carried out to detect antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus.
The biological material is venous blood. The number of antibodies detected is an informative indicator, thanks to which you can know the severity of the disease.
The disadvantage of the ELISA method is that an increase in the concentration of protein compounds occurs against the background of the course of oncological processes.
PCR
This study is by far the most accurate and informative. What is the name of a blood test for HIV in this case? Polymerase chain reaction to immunodeficiency virus.
Such diagnostics are carried out at the DNA level. The error rate in this case is not more than 1%. It is worth noting that the results can be obtained already 3 working days after blood donation.
Training
The information content of the analysis directly depends on how responsibly the patient follows certain rules before taking biomaterial.
Preparation for the study:
- A blood test for HIV is given on an empty stomach. The last meal should take place no later than 8 hours before the delivery of the biomaterial. As a rule, a study is scheduled for the morning. On the evening before, it is recommended to eat only digestible dishes. Tea, coffee and carbonated drinks are not allowed. It is allowed to drink clean still water.
- 48 hours before the blood donation, you must refuse to use any alcohol-containing drinks.
- It is necessary to provide the doctor with information about all the medicines taken. It is possible that the specialist will temporarily cancel medications whose components can affect the result of the study.
- For 2 days, it is necessary to abandon intense physical exertion.
- Immediately before the delivery of the biomaterial, you can not smoke and get very worried. It is important to remember that the psycho-emotional state also affects the result.
Information about which blood tests for HIV or its diagnosis should be given to the patient is provided by the attending physician. He is engaged in their decoding.
If the patient wishes to go to a medical institution on his own, he can do this anonymously. But in this case, the study will be paid. The cost directly depends on the methodology for studying biological material. Most modern clinics use the PCR method, as it is characterized by maximum accuracy and information content.
Biomaterial sampling, transcript of results
The process of taking blood tests for HIV is standard and has no specific features. The biological material is venous blood. 5 ml is enough for research.
Deciphering the results of a blood test for HIV should be done by the attending physician. Clinical trial norm indicators are presented in the table below.
| Hemoglobin | Red blood cells | Platelets | White blood cells | Lymphocytes | ESR |
| Women | 120-140 | 3.7-4.7 | 180-320 | 4-9 | 18-40 | 2-15 |
| Men | 130-160 | 4-5,1 | 180-320 | 4-9 | 18-40 | 1-10 |
Any deviation of these indicators from the norm to a greater or lesser extent indicates the development of the pathological process and is the basis for additional studies.
All other existing analyzes are qualitative. In other words, the result can be positive or negative.
It is important to remember that antibodies to the immunodeficiency virus are not produced immediately. The incubation period can be 3-6 months. In this regard, the study conducted at this time may not be informative. Doctors recommend that even after receiving a negative result, donate blood again after another 3 months. In this case, it will be possible to say for sure whether a person is infected or not.
What can mean a positive result:
- The body has an immunodeficiency virus. If the study was conducted in a small child, then it is customary to say that he was infected from an infected mother.
- The result is incorrect or false.
It so happens that a person is almost sure that he is infected. But he gets a negative result. What this may indicate:
- Immunodeficiency virus is indeed absent in the body.
- The disease is at an early stage of development.
- The pathological process is sluggish.
- The result is false or incorrect.
In any case, it is recommended to donate blood for analysis again after a few months.
What may affect the result.
No modern laboratory can give an absolute guarantee that the analysis is reliable. This is due to the fact that there are many factors that can influence the result.
These include the following:
- The equipment in the laboratory for some reason became faulty.
- Biological material was transported in violation of the norms.
- Human factor. For example, a nurse mixed up test tubes during a blood sampling. As a result, the patient received the results of the analysis of another person.
- Infection has occurred recently.
- The patient ignored the need for preparation. For example, ate or drank before blood donation.
- In the patient's body there are pathologies, the course of which is associated with metabolic disorders.
Doctors recommend women donate blood for HIV several times during pregnancy. This need is due to the fact that the body undergoes changes during the gestation period, which can affect the result.
In isolated cases in people with AIDS, the reaction of the protective system to antibodies may be absent. As a rule, this is a consequence of blood transfusion, long-term treatment with potent drugs, organ transplants.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that medicine is developing rapidly, a cure for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has not yet been found. In this regard, doctors are constantly reminded of the need to donate blood for analysis annually or if alarming symptoms occur. With the timely detection of the disease, the prognosis is considered more favorable.