Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. In 2003, of the 1.0--1.2 million persons estimated to be living with HIV in the United States, 252,000--312,000 persons did not know they were HIV positive. People who do not know their HIV status may unknowingly infect others. Currently, HIV testing can be done quickly and privately in the comfort of your own home. Saliva based kits have a simple process that can be performed by untrained persons without a medical background. Research different brands of kits used to conduct HIV tests.
The 2006 CDC recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings:
Screening for all people aged 13-64 years
High risk populations such as IV drug users and their sex partners and men who have sex with men should be tested annually
Step 1
Purchase a home based HIV saliva testing kit from a reputable pharmacy. Make sure you get a kit that tests for HIV 1 and HIV 2 antibodies. Someone may only test positive to one of the two HIV antibodies.
Step 2
Read the kit's instructions on how to conduct HIV testing. Subtle variations may exist by brand so follow the instructions explicitly. Mechanism of results may also vary slightly by manufacturer.
Step 3
Prepare to collect your saliva specimen. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, dry hands with a clean towel and put on a pair of surgical gloves.
Step 4
Swab the inside of the upper and lower gum with the absorbent end of the tester. Do not allow the absorbent end of the applicator touch anything but the inside of the mouth.
Step 5
Place the absorbent end of the applicator inside the kit's vial with solution for twenty minutes.
Step 6
Compare swab indicators as explained in the testing kit result's instructions. Usually one line means the test in valid and you are HIV negative. Two lines means the test is valid and positive for HIV.
Tips and Warnings
- The HIV test kit manufacturer may have two separate kits depending on which antibody type you are testing. To be sure, test both HIV antibodies.
- This test has 99.3% accuracy when conducted properly. Positive test results should be verified by a physician. The earliest stages of HIV infection may not be detected by these tests.
Things You'll Need
- HIV RAPID SALIVA TEST
