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...
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...
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...
According the most recent information lfrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1,106,400 individuals in the United States Living with HIV. Tests for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, look for the antibodies that are...
HIV tests, or AIDS tests, are administered in medical care facilities of all types including family practice offices, emergency facilities and major hospitals. Performing a home sample collection is also possible with the use of special collection...
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes destruction of cells in the body that fight off diseases. An HIV-infected person becomes more susceptible to bacteria, viruses, fungi and other diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and...
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 confidential HIV test allows you to know if you have the human immunodeficiency virus. This is a devastating and chronic condition where your body attacks itself and minor conditions such as the common cold can prove dangerous and even deadly.
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...
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,...
Getting tested for HIV can be an emotional and difficult decision. Many different implications may be involved. Different implications should not prevent a person from being tested if she has put herself at risk. Public health and health care...
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...
HIV is a virus known as the human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that causes AIDS, the acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome. AIDS represents the advanced stages of an HIV infection. According to the National Library of Medicine,...
Performing a rapid HIV test is easy and can be completed with just a small amount of blood. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists a number of rapid HIV test kits for comparison (see Resources). The instructions for use in each kit...
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a virus that replicates quickly within the human body and devastates the immune system, leaving the body open for opportunistic infections. HIV has infected humans in record numbers since 1981 when the...
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, also called human immunodeficiency virus, is a devastating disease that affects your body's defense against infection. The HIV test was developed to find HIV antibodies (substances in your blood made in reaction to infection) in your oral...
Many people still won't go to their own doctor to be tested for HIV. The reasons are many, but generally it's because you don't want to include HIV testing in your medical record, you may not have a personal doctor or you may fear local reaction...
According to Tijssen in "Practice and Theory of Enzyme Immunoessays," EIA stands for enzyme immunoassay test. Tijssen explained that an EIA tests for enzymatic activity by instigating a controlled immune response. Accordingly, Winn and Koneman...
Of the estimated 1.1 million Americans infected with HIV, approximately 232,000 do not know they have the virus, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HIV testing remains a keystone activity in the effort to provide health...
Maintaining a healthy body includes ensuring that you aren't at risk for any sexually transmitted diseases. Those who receive a positive HIV test should seek medical assistance immediately to manage the disease and increase their chances of...
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...
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...
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...
The need for accessible, comprehensive HIV testing and counseling services in Massachusetts is growing. A 2010 article by the "Boston Globe" cites that of those testing positive for HIV in Massachusetts, one-third of these individuals develop AIDS...
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 (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that damages the cells of your body, leaving it susceptible to various infections you might otherwise be able to recover from. The virus is transmitted easily from one person to the next, and no cure...
HIV or human immunodeficiency virus can lead to AIDS. It affects the human immune system which interferes with the body's ability to fight off disease. Learn about HIV in this video on health and diseases.