The most common initial screening test for HIV is the enzyme immunoassay or EIA, also known as ELISA. The test detects proteins the body makes in response to HIV. These proteins, called antibodies, are defensive molecules made by the B-cells of...
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is an incurable sexually transmitted disease. Common symptoms of HIV are fatigue, fever, headaches, rashes, sore throat and swollen lymph glands, though patients with acute HIV may not have symptoms right...
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a sexually transmitted disease that results in the deterioration of the person's immune system. While HIV does have visible symptoms, the only way to diagnose an HIV infection is through a blood test. The...
Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes a progressive, chronic infection that kills a type of white blood cell, which are the cells of the immune system. HIV ultimately causes acquired...
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the final stage of infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The diagnosis of HIV involves an initial screening test followed by a confirmatory test. Most HIV diagnosis methods look for...
Individuals at risk for HIV infection should be tested on a regular basis. There are several types of HIV tests available, but the most common first test used is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, or ELISA, HIV test. If the ELISA is...
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that progressively destroys CD4+ lymphocytes, making the body susceptible to attack by foreign infectious agents and numerous forms of cancer. HIV infection is tested via enzyme-linked...
The immune system begins to produce antibodies in an attempt to fight the HIV virus as soon as the virus enters the body. HIV/AIDS tests screens for and diagnoses an infection by either detecting the antibodies, or by testing virus levels in the...
When stimulated by an infectious agent or allergen, white blood cells within the body produce proteins called antibodies. Antibodies have the ability to bind selectively to a specific protein or compound, called an antigen, and the...
It takes an average of six to 12 weeks for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, to be detectable, according to Avert, although there have even been rare cases when HIV is not detected until as long as six months after infection. Anyone...
On the average, 0.2 percent of ELISA tests give a false positive HIV test result that are then proven incorrect by a Western Blot test, notes Goaskalice.com, the Columbia University student health website. Autoimmune diseases, recent vaccinations,...
What we take into our bodies often stays in our bodies for a relatively long time. That goes for certain types of illicit drugs. Although the hair itself is not alive, the follicle that produces it is. If drugs such as heroin, cocaine,...
In 2006 there were an estimated 56,000 new cases of HIV infection reported in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of the people who are newly infected were young gay and bisexual males, and African-American...
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 21 percent of Americans infected with HIV are unaware that they have the disease. Only an HIV test can definitively determine whether someone is infected with the virus and...
If you are interested in being tested for HIV, there are a number of options available. HIV tests can be performed within a medical facility or in the comfort of your own home. Depending on the type of HIV test you choose, your results may be...
If you think you have put yourself at risk for HIV, it is important to get tested. The Body states that about 180,000 to 280,000 Americans do not know they are infected. You can go to your doctor, call your local health department or find a...
With well-planned diet and exercise, most people are able to lose weight, but after weeks or months of exercise, many dieters reach the dreaded "plateau." Early on, weight comes off consistently, but once your body has burned a certain percentage...
Pregnenolone is a steroid hormone that the body converts to DHEA, which is then converted into estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and other hormones within the body. Pregnenolone is considered a precursor to all the hormones that the body...
The diagnosis of HIV is a two-step process. The initial screening tests, including ELISA and the rapid tests, are highly sensitive and can detect very low concentrations of anti-HIV antibodies. However, these tests are less specific and can lead...
HIV testing remains an integral part of public health efforts to control the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide early treatment for people with the illness. Different types of HIV tests detect HIV antigens or antibodies. An HIV antigen is a component...
AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is a chronic disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. The virus attacks the immune system, leaving an individual vulnerable to infections and diseases.The late stages of HIV infection are...
Hair is a good medium for drug testing, because a lot of what we ingest deposits residue in our hair. This residue does not coat the outside of the hair. The hair root actually picks up the substance from the blood stream and deposits it on the...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Of the more than 1 million persons in the United States living with HIV/AIDS, an estimated 21 percent are unaware they are infected." Early testing of individuals who have been exposed...
Giardiasis is the infection of the intestines caused by Giardia lamblia, and although many infected individuals have no symptoms, some patients present with diarrhea, gas or bloating, lack of appetite and headache. The infection is acquired by...
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is meant to replace sugar and reduce the number of calories you consume. The sweetener is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but some concern still remains about the safety of the artificial...
Lustral is the brand name for sertraline, which is prescribed to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Lustral is a selective...
A pedometer watch contains a motion-sensing accelerometer that counts the number of steps you take. Many pedometer watches will automatically begin counting steps after you take a certain number of consecutive steps -- for example,16. They also...
Many diet pills and programs claim to offer fast weight loss with little or no effort. But these weight-loss methods don't always deliver the results they promise. Some programs offer healthy diets and exercise for responsible weight loss, but...
