HIV

Listed test: HIV 1/2.

Method: Antibodies, rapid test.

Sample: finger-prick blood.

Results: 20 minutes.

Price: Free.

No appointment is needed. Available every working day.

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus. It affects immune cells, including CD4 lymphocytes. HIV and AIDS are not the same: AIDS is an advanced stage of untreated infection. A positive HIV result does not mean someone has AIDS.

Through certain body fluids — blood, semen, vaginal/rectal fluids and breast milk — when they reach a suitable entry point into the body. Main situations include anal or vaginal sex without effective prevention, shared needles, and transmission during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding without appropriate care.

It is not transmitted through hugs, handshakes, shared cups, food, toilets, swimming pools or mosquitoes. Saliva without blood is not a transmission route. You can safely live, work, exercise and share everyday life with someone with HIV.

A possible exposure does not necessarily mean infection. If it occurred within the past 72 hours, the first step is urgent medical assessment for PEP. Do not wait for a positive test or start PrEP on your own as a substitute for PEP. A clear testing plan is also useful after an older exposure.

Some people develop a flu-like illness approximately 2–4 weeks after infection; others do not. This is the time to possible symptoms. It is not the point after which all tests are reliable.

According to CDC, without antiretroviral medicines: a laboratory antigen/antibody combination test using venous blood usually detects HIV within 18–45 days; a rapid finger-prick combination test within 18–90 days; an antibody test within 23–90 days; and NAT/RNA within 10–33 days. These are method-specific ranges, not a guarantee for a particular day. PrEP/PEP can affect detection.

Fever, rash, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes can occur in early infection, but also in many other illnesses. No symptom, photograph or online questionnaire can diagnose or rule out HIV.

Yes, sometimes for years. Screening means testing without symptoms. Having no symptoms is not a reason to skip testing after exposure or your regular tests.

HIV is a systemic infection. Blood testing checks HIV status; there is no separate “throat HIV test” after oral sex. Other infections may require throat, rectal and genital samples.

The choice between antibody, antigen/antibody combination and viral NAT/RNA testing depends on timing and circumstances. A reactive screening test is confirmed using a diagnostic algorithm. A positive home or rapid test alone is not a completed diagnosis.

Venous blood, finger-prick blood or oral fluid, depending on the specific test. The method and specimen determine the window period. Ask exactly which test is used rather than relying only on the word “rapid”.

Reactive screening is followed by confirmation and support. Confirmed infection leads to referral to a specialist for treatment. You do not have to resolve everything on the day of the result: the first priorities are confirmation, a medical plan and someone you can talk to.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) stops the virus multiplying and allows the immune system to recover. Treatment starts as soon as possible after diagnosis and continues long term. Modern regimens are effective; the specific choice considers other conditions and drug interactions.

HIV does not provide protective immunity against other infections. Superinfection with a different variant is possible, but the main practical focus is regular ART, monitoring and overall sexual health. Do not stop treatment because of a new partner or absence of symptoms.

Partners can access testing and, after a recent significant exposure, assessment for PEP. A professional can support the conversation. When an undetectable viral load is maintained, HIV is not sexually transmitted; status alone does not determine sexual transmission risk.

PrEP before future exposures, PEP in appropriate urgent situations, condoms and sterile injecting equipment are different options. For someone with HIV, effective treatment protects health and prevents sexual transmission. Choose an approach that fits your real life.

Immediately after a possible exposure within the past 72 hours. Seek assessment after a recent exposure with flu-like symptoms too, even if a rapid test is negative. After diagnosis, discuss new symptoms with your care team.

Recent exposure: open the PEP guide and seek medical assessment now. No urgency: book a test and explain when the last exposure occurred. Confirmed result: arrange connection to care and support. Available tests and prices are in the current price list.

A person with HIV who takes treatment and maintains an undetectable viral load does not transmit HIV through sex. This is U=U — Undetectable = Untransmittable. Undetectable does not mean the virus has disappeared or treatment can stop. The level is confirmed and monitored with tests. Evidence of zero risk applies to sexual transmission; it cannot automatically be extended to breastfeeding or sharing needles.

Viral load measures the amount of HIV in the blood and shows how treatment is working. CD4 measures the state of part of the immune system and helps plan care. A result is interpreted alongside previous results, medicines and your health. Small temporary changes do not automatically mean treatment failure.

HIV is part of someone’s health information, not their identity. With effective treatment, many people lead long, fulfilling lives. You deserve respect, intimacy and sexual pleasure. You can prepare a conversation with a partner about U=U, testing and shared boundaries; it does not need to become an interrogation.

People with HIV can plan a family. A consultation beforehand supports appropriate treatment, sustained viral suppression and care during pregnancy and for the baby. Infant feeding is discussed separately with the team according to national guidance and available options; U=U for sex does not mean zero risk during breastfeeding.

Anxiety, anger or confusion are possible after a result. They do not determine how you will feel in a month or a year. A useful first step is speaking with someone you trust, a psychologist or a team experienced in HIV. You can write down just three questions for your consultation: what do we know for sure, what happens next and whom should I contact?

A negative test means that particular test did not detect infection at that time, taking its window period into account. An undetectable viral load describes HIV controlled by treatment. PrEP prevents HIV before future exposures. PEP is urgent prevention after a specific exposure. None of these terms means an overall negative status for every sexually transmitted infection.

Bring all results and a list of medicines, including supplements. The appointment covers treatment, necessary tests, vaccination and your next contact with the team. Ask how to obtain medicines and what to do if taking them becomes difficult. If there is too much information, ask for a written plan or bring a trusted person of your choice.

Shift work, travel, anxiety and side effects can make a routine difficult. This is useful information for the team, not a reason for blame. Together you can find a convenient time, a reminder or another suitable treatment option. If you miss doses, do not stop the remaining ones on your own: seek advice specific to your medicine and circumstances.

HIV care includes more than viral load. Depending on age and medical history, it also covers kidney and liver health, vaccines, other sexually transmitted infections and preventive check-ups. U=U eliminates sexual transmission of HIV but does not replace this broader care. Mention symptoms and new medicines even if they seem unrelated.

Check whether a source distinguishes HIV from AIDS, explains U=U and names a date and medical organisation. Promises of a supplement cure or advice to stop ART are reasons to speak with your care team. Separate general education from personal treatment decisions: even an accurate article does not know your results or medicines.