How is a test performed? What is the waiting period to find out the result?
The following information is specifically written for those who live in Australia. The HIV antibody test is a simple blood test performed in a laboratory on a small sample of your blood. The sample can be taken by your doctor, or in a government or community clinic or health centre. Your test result is confidential. Even the fact that you have been tested at all is protected by law. Confidentiality means that the health service that conducts the blood test is not allowed to tell anyone who you are and what your results are. A small fee may be charged as there is no government rebate for this service. The test is free at Sexual Health Clinics. It can take as long as 3 months for the body to make enough antibodies for the blood test to be able to detect them. So if a person became infected with HIV two weeks ago, it may not yet show up in their blood. Another test may be necessary after three months from possible infection. Important things to remember about the HIV antibody test are: –
