Diagnosis
The infection triggers an immune response in all infected persons, producing antibodies against HIV. These antibodies and specific viral components (antigens, genetic material) can usually already be detected by advanced tests two to four weeks after infection.
In individual cases, the production of antibodies takes somewhat longer. To rule out an HIV infection, an HIV test should therefore be taken no earlier than six weeks after the last risk exposure (in the case of rapid tests and self-tests, 12 weeks are recommended). If anti-HIV antibodies or components of HIV (antigens, genetic material) are detected, a confirmatory test using a different test method must be carried out. Only if this test is also reactive (“HIV test positive”) is the person definitely infected with HIV.
There are many reasons to get tested: obtaining certainty when being worried about a potential infection, wanting to have sex without a condom in a relationship, wanting to have children, starting therapy as early as possible, or clarifying symptoms. Pregnant persons are recommended to get tested for HIV so that they can be offered antiretroviral therapy, if necessary, and to prevent transmission to the baby by taking appropriate further measures.
People who are not sure whether they might have been infected should get counselling, for example from an AIDS Service Organisation (if preferred, including over the phone/in anonymous form), at www.aidshilfe-beratung.de or from an experienced specialist (contact details are available at dagnae. de/aerzte). Discussing the risk of other sexually transmitted infections in the counselling session is recommended as well. Testing is offered (for free or for a small fee) by public health departments as well as many AIDS Service Organisations and prevention projects (local testing facilities can be found at kompass.hiv/en, categories: testpoint). The test is anonymous and the result is not recorded.
Another option is mail-in testing: In this case, some blood is collected from the fingertip at home and sent to a laboratory for evaluation. The result is communicated over the phone (further information at www.samhealth.de).
There is also the possibility of performing a self-test.
At medical practices, the test is usually performed while documenting the patient’s name and the test result in the medical records.
HIV self test
HIV self-tests are suitable for people who do not want to go to a testing facility or do not have a testing facility in their area.
HIV self-testing kits are available from pharmacies, AIDS Service Organisations, drugstores, or online. It is important that they bear a CE marking, are designed for use by laypersons and are approved in Europe.
To rule out an HIV infection, a self-test should be taken no earlier than 12 weeks after the last risk exposure.
In rare cases, the self-test may show a positive result even though an HIV infection is not present. For this reason, a “reactive” test result should always be confirmed using a different test method at a medical practice, public health department, AIDS Service Organisation, or checkpoint. Only if this test is also reactive (“HIV test positive”) is the person definitely infected with HIV.