What's the point of HIV tests, if health specialists say that they are not that accurate?!


Question: What's the point of HIV tests, if health specialists say that they are not that accurate.?
People say that you should get tested, because you could not know if you have it, but then they also say that it can take years and years for it to show up in your system, and to show up on the test. So what's the point if it's like that.?

Are we supposed to get tested every few weeks until it shows up. "Oh I put off sex for two years, now I can do it...ugh oh I might be positive after all."Health Question & Answer


Answers:
People get this information wrong. There are no signs of HIV when a person is infected, but this does not mean it's dormant. It can take 10-12 years for any true medical signs that something is wrong, but the HIV is there and will show up on a test IF a person is infected and gets tested. After a person has been infected with the virus, it can take up to 3 months (90 days) to show up on a HIV test. Usually it shows up 90% of the time with in the 1st 30 days, 94-96% after 60 days, and 99.6% after 90 days a few, very few, take a little over 90 days. also the new test are becoming more specific.

The HIV test (rapid) is getting so much better, we use one in our clinic that give the result in 10 minutes.

So the real point is everyone should get tested at least once a year, if you have multiple partners a person should test every 3-6 months.Health Question & Answer

With the new tests now it can take from one week to 3 months to show a positive test result (from the initial time of infection). The tests look for the antibodies your body produces to the virus, not the virus itself; which is why it does take a while, your body needs time to produce the antibodies.
There are different strains of HIV which is why it is still very important to wear protection, even if you are HIV positive. There is strain one (which has 9+ subtypes) & strain two.
You may have HIV strain one and your partner has strain two, you could end up w/ both strains, making treatment nearly impossible.
By treatment I mean, not to get rid of the virus, but to slow down its' replication time.Health Question & Answer

chances are it show up 6 months after you have been infected, in some cases it doesn't but the tests are more accurate than not, and it's 100% worth it, u will be able to sleep better at night knowing your status, plus god forbid a test does come back positive the sooner u know the sooner u can get started on your medications and the longer u can live people are living a very long time now a days with these new treatments, it's well worth it to get testedHealth Question & Answer

well it gives then an idea....i guessHealth Question & Answer



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