Home Test Kit for HIV
The presence of an HIV virus in the body can now be confidentially taken right in the home. HIV if left untreated could process to full-blown AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome which destroys the immune system of the body making it vulnerable to even the most harmless infections. HIV is the onset of the disease which can lie dormant in the body for years which could surprise some infected people since they have never experienced any symptoms which they have inadvertently passed on to other people. Undergoing an HIV test is very important even when asymptomatic and here’s why:
- Control the infection – Every year there are around 56,000 Americans that get infected with the HIV virus. The reason for the spread of infection is because these infected individuals have no idea that they have the virus and pass it on to their partners. Unexpected HIV blood tests performed for reasons of blood donation or other purposes would often be the way to discover the infection. Having yourself tested at home or laboratories can stop the spread of the infection in the event that you test positive for the HIV virus.
- Confidential and private – The shame and stigma of going to a testing center or laboratory would be enough to discourage anyone from having the tests done. Yet, you feel that having the tests done is imperative for your peace of mind and also for your health as well. The advent of home test kits gives you the convenience of having it done in the privacy of your home. To further protect your privacy, always remember to dispose of the test kit properly after use.
- Convenient and easy to use – The AIDS test could be conveniently bought online and the kit comes with easy-to-follow instructions to get specimens from you. The blood sample is sent to a laboratory’s name attached to the kit which you can call after a few days to find out the results of the test.
- Accurate – The Home test kits bear the stamp of approval from the FDA which means that it has met the standards set for it. It is also very accurate so long as you follow the directions. The laboratory that you send the sample to has met CLIA requirements which are an assurance that the results will be 99% accurate.
- Reassurance – One way to give yourself reassurance is to get an HIV test to find out if you have been infected if you know that you recently had an unprotected sexual activity. In the worst case scenario you discover that you have acquired the virus, it could save your life as well as contain the spread of contaminating other partners.
Choosing to have an HIV test done is a sign of responsibility on your part. Having unprotected sex is your choice and the most responsible thing that you can do for yourself and your future partners is to have yourself tested to confirm or to reassure yourself that you are free from the HIV virus.
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The shame and stigma that is attached to being infected with the HIV virus is the thing that stops people from submitting to an HIV test. However, the life-threatening menace of the virus would be the encouragement for an infected individual to seek help. Yet, does it have to invade one’s privacy in order to do that? Would something as convenient and private as an HIV home test kit be available and if so, would it give accurate results?
If you suspect that you have acquired an HIV virus from a recent sexual encounter, the time to act and confirm it is now. If left untested and untreated, the HIV could eventually progress to AIDS and by that time it will be too late. We are all aware that there is no known cure for HIV/AIDS despite the advances in scientific and medical technology and research. The only chance that an HIV-infected individual has is to stop the replication of the virus without it progressing to AIDS and live for a longer period.
The first step that needs to be taken is to have an HIV testing done to confirm whether you have the virus or not. The upside to testing is the availability of HIV home test kits that can be performed in the privacy of your home. Just remember to get the ones that have the approval of FDA which qualifies it to be an HIV home kit that could give accurate results. The downside to the home kits is the state laws. Some states consider them as illegal since home testing could not be tracked. Federal law has sided with the right to privacy of an infected individual, but this has been disregarded by some states. The best way for you to find out before getting an HIV home test kit is to check your state laws.
Just a heads up for you to consider before buying your own HIV home test kit. HIV antigens can only be detected three months after it has infected you. The test would be able to give accurate results when 12 weeks has gone by from the time that you had a suspected sexual encounter. There are also cases where it took more than three months for the HIV antigen to be detected.
An HIV home test kit comes complete with instructions on the proper way to get a blood specimen. What you need to do is to wash your hands before pricking your finger. This is to avoid contamination of other chemicals that may be on your finger to the blood specimen. Some HIV home test kits could provide accurate results in a matter of ten minutes. This is if the period of three months from suspected infection has taken place.
Should the results show that you have acquired the infection, do not look at it as a death sentence. The HIV antigens in your body would not necessarily progress to AIDS as seen in other cases of other infected people who have learned to control it and lead normal lives as well.
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