• About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Download App
  • Anti-Racism Summit
SWHELPER
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • LGBTQ
  • Disability
  • Podcast
Find/Post Jobs
  • Home
  • News
  • Culture
  • Mental Health
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • LGBTQ
  • Disability
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
SWHELPER
No Result
View All Result
Home Social Work

HIV Basics and Diagnosis: Knowledge and Awareness for All

Walter MoorebyWalter Moore
April 7, 2019
in Social Work
0
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Having the basic knowledge of HIV has become crucial for everyone. Awareness often helps you take precaution. HIV or otherwise known as human immunodeficiency virus is responsible for causing HIV infection, a condition in which a person’s immune system gets weakened as the virus attacks and destroys the important cells in the body which fight infection and keep us healthy. Even though there is no complete cure for HIV, with proper medical care and lifestyle improvement, the infection can be effectively controlled.

It is noted that people in the US are more prone to HIV infection than others due to many factors as the choice of sex partners, risky behaviors, and lifestyle. At the first point, diagnosing the condition is crucial through the right methods.

HIV is primarily diagnosed by testing the blood or saliva of the patient for development of any antibodies to the virus. Once being infected, the body may take about 12 weeks to develop these antibodies, so the testing needs to be done accordingly to confirm.

Methods of diagnosis

At the latest, there is a test that checks for the ‘HIV antigen’, which is a protein produced by the infected virus soon after the infection. This is now considered to be the fastest and earliest method for diagnosing HIV. An early diagnosis can surely prompt people to take additional precautions to prevent any transmission.

Elisa Test

ADVERTISEMENT

ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which is the most popularly used method for diagnosing HIV infection. If the ELISA application test is positive, next the Western Blot Test may be administered to reconfirm the presence of virus. If you doubt you have HIV despite finding the ELISA test negative, you need to do the testing again in a couple of months to get reassured.

Other tests

There are a few other tests which are approved for diagnosing HIV infection, and the results of these tests need to be reconfirmed by a doctor or medical professional.

  • Home test – The only approved home test by U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is the ‘Home Access Express Test’, for which you can buy the kit from the pharmacies.
  • Saliva test – In this, a cotton pad will be used to take saliva from the inner part of the cheek. It will be tested in a laboratory and it may take three days to get results. Even if the result is positive, it needs to be confirmed with a blood test.
  • Western Blot — This is a secondary blood test, which is very sensitive and is used to confirm the positive results of an ELISA test.
  • Viral Load test — This test is used to assess the volume of HIV in the blood. This test is used for early detection of HIV as well as during the treatment of HIV to analyze the progress of treatment. HIV gets detected by checking the DNA sequences which bind to those on the virus.

If you are diagnosed as HIV positive and start with the treatment, there are various types of tests administered by the doctors to determine the stages of the disease to implement adequate treatment modalities. The most common tests are CD4 count, viral load test, drug resistance test etc

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Previous Post

Supporting Loved Ones Looking to Lose Weight for the New Year

Next Post

Military Women: The Surprising Health Benefits of Combat Integration

Walter Moore

Walter Moore

Walter Moore is a healthcare specialist with many years of experience in Oncology with specialization in ELISA application for early detection of HIV and effective treatment modalities.

Related Posts

Alaska Social Worker Dr. Yvonne Chase is the new President-Elect of NASW
News

Alaska Social Worker Dr. Yvonne Chase is the new President-Elect of NASW

July 7, 2022
150
The Positive Impact Social Work Can Have on Public Education
Education

The Positive Impact Social Work Can Have on Public Education

June 24, 2022
152
Insult to Injury: U.S. Workers Without Paid Sick Leave Suffer from Mental Distress
Education

How Social Workers Can Practice Trauma-Informed Care

June 18, 2022
560
In A New World, Social Work Leads the Way
Criminal Justice

In A New World, Social Work Leads the Way

June 14, 2022
135
Five Tips to Ease Kids’ Social Reentry
Mental Health

Five Tips to Ease Kids’ Social Reentry

June 17, 2022
20
What “Bachelor in Paradise” Can Teach us About Empowering the Disability Community
Culture

What “Bachelor in Paradise” Can Teach us About Empowering the Disability Community

October 31, 2021
8
Next Post
Military Women: The Surprising Health Benefits of Combat Integration

Military Women: The Surprising Health Benefits of Combat Integration

Social Movements Rise From Need

Social Movements Rise From Need

Leave Comment
ADVERTISEMENT
What Can Be Done To Solve The Foster Care Crisis?

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship: Creative Termination Activities

June 24, 2022
4.6k
What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

What Feelings Are In Your Heart: An Art Therapy Exercise for Kids

June 19, 2022
1.9k
Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

Want to Work With Children: 5 Skills and Qualities You Should Be Working On

April 7, 2019
1.9k

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Subscribe
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram TikTok
SWHELPER

  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Buy Merch
  • Download App
  • Terms of Service

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • News
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Politics
    • Criminal Justice
    • Social Work
    • Education
    • LGBTQ
    • Poverty
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Virtual Summit
  • Career Center
  • Download App
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart

© 2022 Social Work Helper, PBC

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Facebook
Sign In with Google
Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Sign Up with Facebook
Sign Up with Google
Sign Up with Linked In
OR

Fill the forms below to register

*By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version