HIV/AIDS Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === HIV testing === [[File:HIV Rapid Test being administered.jpg|thumb|HIV rapid test being administered]] [[File:Oraquick.jpg|thumb|Oraquick HIV test]] Most people infected with HIV develop [[seroconvert]]ed (antigen-specific) [[antibodies]] within three to twelve weeks after the initial infection.<ref name=M118/> Diagnosis of primary HIV before seroconversion is done by measuring HIV-[[RNA]] or [[Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS#Antigen tests|p24 antigen]].<ref name=M118/> Positive results obtained by antibody or [[Polymerase chain reaction|PCR]] testing are confirmed either by a different antibody or by PCR.<ref name=WHOCase2007/> Antibody tests in children younger than 18 months are typically inaccurate, due to the continued presence of [[Maternal Passive Immunity#Naturally acquired passive immunity|maternal antibodies]].<ref name=ChildDiag2010>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kellerman S, Essajee S |title=HIV testing for children in resource-limited settings: what are we waiting for? |journal=[[PLOS Medicine]] |volume=7 |issue=7 |page=e1000285 |date=July 2010 |pmid=20652012 |pmc=2907270 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000285 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Thus HIV infection can only be diagnosed by PCR testing for HIV RNA or DNA, or via testing for the p24 antigen.<ref name=WHOCase2007/> Much of the world lacks access to reliable PCR testing, and people in many places simply wait until either symptoms develop or the child is old enough for accurate antibody testing.<ref name=ChildDiag2010/> In sub-Saharan Africa between 2007 and 2009, between 30% and 70% of the population were aware of their HIV status.<ref name=UN2011Eighty>UNAIDS 2011 pg. 70β80</ref> In 2009, between 3.6% and 42% of men and women in sub-Saharan countries were tested;<ref name=UN2011Eighty/> this represented a significant increase compared to previous years.<ref name=UN2011Eighty/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page