What are the alternatives? | HIV quick test – You should know that!

What are the alternatives?

An alternative to the HIV rapid test is the HIV laboratory test. This test is carried out anyway in case of a positive HIV rapid test to ensure the diagnosis. It includes a screening test and a confirmation test by means of a blood test.

The difference to the HIV rapid test, however, is that the HIV laboratory test involves taking blood from the veins and examining the blood not only for antibodies, but also for other HIV-typical components (antigens). The test can also be performed about two weeks after possible HIV infection and after six weeks it can reliably rule out HIV infection. There is also the HIV PCR test.

Here the blood is not examined for antibodies, but for the HI virus itself. This test is mainly used to control the therapy of treated HIV infections.

All articles in this series:

  1. HIV quick test – You should know that!
  2. Implementation of the HIV rapid test
  3. What are the alternatives?