HIV-1-RNA (PCR) and HIV-2-RNA (PCR)
This DNA HIV PCR test, is 72 hours after infection 99.99 % reliable.
The result takes 10 to 14 working days after receipt at the lab.
If you only want to be tested for HIV 1 then that is also possible. You then pay half.
Why this HIV test?
If you have been the victim of an accidental prick, cut or bite, you need to take heavy medication to prevent you from getting AIDS. Some people wish to have certainty whether they are infected or not, after antibodies have formed, by means of this DNA test.
Not so long ago, an HIV infection almost always led to AIDS, and consequently to death. Nowadays, an HIV infection can be suppressed for a long time by means of combination therapy, as a result of which you can stay reasonably to well healthy with HIV. It is important to find out quickly. The sooner you know if you are infected with HIV, the sooner you can start determining how to treat, for example. If you are treated before you get sick, the result is better than if you only start treating when you have already become sick. If you are too late, you can get AIDS. And despite modern treatment methods, this can lead to permanently poorer health.
There are two known variants of the HIV virus. The first discovered virus (HIV-1) is the most aggressive. In 1985, a variant of HIV-1 called HIV-2 was discovered in the Western part of Africa. HIV-2 is less aggressive than HIV-1; its course is more benign and slower. People infected with HIV-2 have a longer life expectancy on average than people infected with HIV-1. This blood test tests for both types of HIV.
If the result is positive (infection) you will be contacted by phone.
If you suspect an infection in you or your sexual partner(s), it is wise to also get yourself tested. We recommend that you choose the time of testing so that you can turn to someone for support and advice in the event of a positive result. Be aware that the results of an HIV test may affect your ability to obtain health and life insurance. If necessary, change your lifestyle and habits to exclude the possibility of infecting others until you are certain that you are not infected.
Negative result (the disease is not shown)
A negative result after three months of exposure does not completely rule out the possibility of HIV infection. Very sometimes it takes longer for the disease to be detected with the p24/antibodies duo test. For blood donors, therefore, a period of 12 months is used if there has been a possible risk of infection.
This test is also used by people undergoing treatment for HIV, to show that the virus is no longer detectable. Our doctors warn you that if the virus is no longer detectable and you are undergoing treatment with medication, do not just stop it. It may be that the virus is no longer detectable, but that after stopping the treatment it still pops up, the virus can become resistant to the medication, with all its consequences. So don't do anything without consulting your therapist.
This test is usually negative in patients taking cART (combination antiretroviral therapy).
Positive result (the disease is detected)
The sensitivity and specificity of current tests are high (over 99.8%), which means the likelihood of a false-positive or false-negative result is low. If the result is positive, the ServiceLabs laboratory will reconfirm the result at no additional cost using a different method, such as the Western Blot laboratory test or another appropriate test. You will only receive a positive result if this confirmatory test is also positive. In that case, we recommend that you seek help from your primary care physician, the GGD, or another (independent) physician.
If you have physical symptoms and a positive test result, we recommend that you contact your primary care physician, the GGD, or another (independent) physician immediately.
For general questions about HIV/AIDS, you can contact the independent AIDS and STI Info Line at 0900 - 204 204 0
Hours: Mon and Tue from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wed, Thu, and Fri from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
You can also ask questions by email: [email protected] or chat at www.sense.info
or Stichting Korrelatie, [email protected], or 0900 - 1450 (15 cpm, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)
You can also chat for free at www.korrelatie.nl
After becoming infected with HIV, the infected person is contagious from the very beginning of the HIV infection, even if they do not yet have any symptoms. Even when the viral load has become undetectable as a result of treatment, there remains a risk of HIV transmission, although it is very small.
