Can a normal blood test detect HIV?

This is an automatically translated article.

Regular blood tests cannot detect the presence of HIV in the body. Only when performing specialized tests such as finding HIV antigens and antibodies at the right time can HIV disease be diagnosed accurately.

1. Can HIV be detected with a routine blood test?

In general blood test does not include HIV test. If you don't ask your doctor to test for HIV, you won't be able to detect HIV.
The main tests in the category of general blood tests usually include only the following main tests:
Complete blood count: To quantify components of blood such as platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells.., and some of their properties such as size, amount of hemoglobin,... in the blood sample. This test helps us detect basic abnormalities in the blood, thereby providing other tests to help diagnose the exact cause of the disease. Blood sugar: Helps to measure blood sugar levels to help determine the risk of diabetes. To ensure accurate results, blood collection must be performed after 8 hours of fasting or more. Blood fat test: Helps measure cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood including total cholesterol, HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol). Blood lipid testing also helps diagnose high cholesterol in the blood. Blood cholesterol is considered high if > 2.50 g/l. Triglycerides are considered high if > 2 g/l. Liver enzyme index: Helps determine the concentration of alanine amino transferase (ALAT or SGPT) along with aspartate amino transferase (ASAT or SGOT). These parameters help diagnose liver diseases (alcohol, viral or cancer). In addition, there are other diagnostic directions because the levels of these enzymes are also increased in some diseases such as pancreatitis or myocardial infarction.

2. How do I get tested for HIV?

If you suspect that you have HIV, you should see a doctor and get an HIV test or go to a preventive medicine center or large hospital to get an accurate HIV test.
Antigen test: This test looks for the HIV virus in the blood. The test can show how much virus is in the blood (also called an HIV viral load test). It is an expensive test and is not used routinely for personal screening, unless you are at high risk for HIV exposure or develop early HIV symptoms. Tests for HIV antibodies: Most HIV rapid tests or home test kits are antibody tests. This test looks for HIV antibodies in blood or body fluids. With a blood test, you will be asked to draw blood from a vein into a sample tube and send it to a lab for analysis. With a body fluid test, oral fluids are usually taken, and can be done at home. With an antibody screening test, results are usually available more quickly (in about 30 minutes). Both antigen and antibody test: This test looks for both HIV antigens and antibodies in the body. Antibodies are produced by the immune system when the body is exposed to the HIV virus, and antigens are foreign substances that enter the body and activate the natural immune system. When infected with the HIV virus, an antigen called p24 appears about 2–4 weeks after infection.

3. What do HIV test results mean?

HIV negative result: This result does not mean that you are completely free of HIV infection. It means that at the time of testing your body did not carry this virus or the test did not detect the virus. There is a high chance that you are in the "window" period.
The "window" period lasts from 3 to 6 months, this is also the time for the body to produce antibodies against the virus. Therefore, if the test is done between the time the virus enters and the body produces enough antibodies, the result may be negative while the person doing the test is already infected with HIV. During the window period, you can still transmit HIV to others even though your antibody test result is negative.
If you feel you are at high risk for HIV infection and think you are in your "window" period, you should get tested again to confirm your HIV status.
HIV positive result: It means your body is carrying the HIV virus. You should not worry, go to medical facilities immediately for the earliest advice and treatment.

3. What are the benefits of early HIV detection and treatment?

Help maintain health, prolong life and live a useful life for families and the community: Get tested early if you suspect you have HIV, don't wait until you feel tired or sick to come to the facility medical. Because at that time, the immune system has been weakened, the body no longer has enough resistance to fight pathogens, you will be very susceptible to serious infections. Therefore, it is advisable to go to a health facility as soon as you are found to be HIV-positive for advice and treatment. If your CD4 count is ≤ 350 cells/mm3 of blood, you are eligible for ART.
Helps reduce drug costs, medical costs and hospital stays: When your immune system is not severely weakened, your body is healthy, you will not get opportunistic infections. Therefore, you do not need to spend money on the treatment of severe opportunistic infections (which occur if CD4 is < 200 cells/mm3 of blood). Helps reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others: Early treatment reduces the risk of infecting everyone, including your spouse, friends, and children.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.