What Does a Non-Reactive Outcome Imply in HIV Testing?

A non-reactive consequence from an HIV take a look at signifies that you examined adverse for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Normally, which means you do not have a detectable an infection.

In some circumstances, although, it’s possible you’ll get a non-reactive consequence in case you take a look at too quickly after HIV publicity. Retesting after a while—weeks or months—could also be essential to detect HIV extra precisely.

Testing for HIV includes checking samples of your blood, saliva, or urine for HIV antigens (international proteins that set off an immune response) or antibodies (proteins your physique makes in response to viral an infection).

A non-reactive consequence signifies that your pattern didn’t present the presence of HIV antigens or antibodies on the time of testing. In different phrases, it was adverse. This often suggests considered one of two issues:

You do not need HIV.You examined too quickly after publicity, earlier than detectable HIV antigens or antibodies may develop.

However, a reactive consequence signifies that the take a look at confirmed a response, suggesting the presence of HIV antigens or antibodies in your pattern. This means a constructive HIV an infection.

HIV antibody take a look at outcomes are correct greater than 99.5% of the time.

Healthcare suppliers might take a look at your pattern two or extra occasions to verify the outcomes earlier than you obtain them. The primary take a look at is named an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) take a look at. Lab technicians use one other take a look at referred to as a Western blot to verify constructive outcomes.

Inaccurate outcomes might happen in case you had been examined throughout the window interval.

The window interval is the time between your publicity to the virus and when your physique produces sufficient antibodies for the take a look at to detect. Normally, your immune system takes about three weeks to 2 months to supply detectable antibodies. Testing throughout the window interval usually results in non-reactive (adverse) outcomes, even if in case you have HIV.

As a result of potential for a false adverse consequence throughout the window interval, retesting for HIV could also be mandatory, particularly if in case you have sure threat components. These might embrace:

You had vaginal or anal intercourse with somebody who has HIV.
You had intercourse with multiple accomplice since your final HIV take a look at.
You may have shared needles or syringes with different individuals.
You may have or had different sexually transmitted infections (STIs), resembling hepatitis or tuberculosis.
You have had intercourse for cash or medication.
You had intercourse with somebody who has finished any of this stuff.
You do not know a sexual accomplice’s sexual historical past.

Avoiding intercourse and injection drug use might help you forestall and keep away from HIV an infection. When you have intercourse, although, you possibly can assist decrease your threat of HIV an infection by following sure habits. Attempt these methods:

Use condoms: Female and male condoms (generally referred to as exterior and inner condoms) might help forestall HIV and different STIs. Be sure you use them appropriately each time.
Select sexual actions mindfully: HIV primarily spreads by way of vaginal or anal intercourse, and there may be little probability of getting HIV by way of oral intercourse.
Take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): PrEP is a medicine that may assist cut back the chance of getting HIV from intercourse or injection drug use. PrEP is on the market as tablets or injections and is only whenever you take it as prescribed.
Ask about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): You possibly can speak to your healthcare supplier about PEP in case you are HIV-negative or do not know your HIV standing however assume you might have been uncovered to HIV throughout the final 72 hours (three days). It is a remedy you’re taking for 28 days to forestall an infection.
Get examined and handled for different STIs: Having different STIs will increase your probability of getting HIV. Getting examined and handled for these circumstances can cut back your probabilities of getting HIV.
By no means share syringes or needles: For those who inject medication, use clear and new syringes, needles, and different injection tools each time.
Have fewer sexual companions: Having intercourse with fewer individuals means there’s much less probability of getting a accomplice who might transmit HIV to you.
Encourage your accomplice to remain on remedy if they’ve HIV: HIV remedy might help cut back their viral load, which reduces their threat of transmitting the an infection to HIV-negative companions.

A non-reactive HIV take a look at result’s a adverse take a look at consequence. It sometimes signifies that you do not need HIV. Nonetheless, in case you examined too quickly after publicity—within the window interval, earlier than detectable HIV antibodies may develop—your take a look at consequence might also be non-reactive.

When you have a non-reactive or adverse take a look at consequence, take into account speaking to a healthcare supplier about your threat of HIV and whether or not you need to retest to verify the consequence.