The virus that has captivated global attention for almost all of 2020 is SARS-CoV-2, the official name of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In a parallel manner, testing for the coronavirus and coronavirus antibodies has been surging in necessity and popularity.
Although public health efforts to contain the coronavirus is crucial, it is still important to test for another virus, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in at-risk individuals. HIV can spread through infected blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. HIV can impact anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender, or age.
The two most common sources of HIV infection are unprotected intercourse and sharing needles with individuals that have HIV. Individuals that partake in one or both of these activities are at a higher risk of contracting HIV compared to the general population. For an additional breakdown of risk factors by demographic subgroups, this list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is useful.
Although it is recommended by the CDC that HIV screening should be performed in all patients 13 to 64 years of age, it is especially relevant for individuals at high risk of HIV infection to be tested on an annual basis.
Testing for HIV can be performed either at home or on-site with a healthcare professional. If the option to test at home is utilized and a result indicates a preliminary positive, then the diagnosis must be confirmed by a healthcare professional.
Currently, there is only one United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved at-home test for HIV. This test is called the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test. At this time, no other tests that market themselves as at-home HIV testing options should be utilized because their accuracy has not been validated by the FDA.
OraQuick In-Home HIV Test
The OraQuick test consists of an oral swab that provides results within 20 to 40 minutes after swabbing. This test tests for HIV antibodies. HIV antibodies typically develop in HIV-infected individuals within 4 to 8 weeks after initial exposure to the virus but can take up to 6 months to develop depending on the individual.
To use this test, the test stick provided in the packaging of the product is to be swabbed along the upper gums in the mouth once and then along the lower gums once. After this, the test stick is to be inserted into a provided test tube filled with liquid. After 20 to 40 minutes, the test stick can be interpreted (see image below).
For more detailed step-by-step instructions on how to use the test, reference this how-to video provided by OraSure Technologies, the company that produces the OraQuick test.
Although HIV antibodies can develop in as quickly as 4 to 8 weeks after exposure, the OraQuick test should be utilized only after 3 months (12 weeks) or more have elapsed. For example, if an individual thinks they engaged in a behavior that may have led them to contract HIV on July 1st, 2020, then the earliest the OraQuick test should be used is October 1st, 2020. If the test is utilized too early (before the 3 month mark), the test may provide a false negative.
If a test result from the OraQuick test is positive, then a test to confirm the diagnosis must be made by a healthcare professional. The list below can be utilized to find a provider who can perform confirmatory testing. After a confirmed HIV diagnosis is made by a healthcare professional via additional testing, drug treatment is typically initiated.
If a test result is negative from the OraQuick test and 3 months or more have elapsed since possible HIV exposure, no further immediate action is typically required.
For individuals interested in testing for HIV sooner than 3 months after possible HIV exposure, this at-home testing option should not be utilized.
The OraQuick test can be purchased online and at many pharmacies. All prices listed are accurate as of the publishing time of this article.
- Walmart ($32.99)
- Rite-Aid ($34.99)
- Amazon ($39.88)
- Target ($39.99)
- CVS Health ($45.99)
- Walgreens ($45.99)
Resources to utilize for finding HIV testing centers:
- HIV Testing Center Locator (via HIV.gov)
- HIV/STD/Hepatitis Testing Center Locator (via CDC.gov)
- Call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) to find a testing location
- Text your ZIP code to “KNOW IT” (566948) to find a testing center location
HIV, and all facets encompassing it, can be complex, confusing, and frustrating. For specific questions about testing, it is recommended to contact a physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. Additionally, organizations such as HIV.gov, CDC, FDA, AIDS United, International AIDS Society, World Health Organization (WHO), and AIDSinfo can provide additional information that is both reliable and typically easy-to-understand.
References:
- Information regarding the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).. Accessed 5 July 2020.
- HIV Risk Behaviors | HIV Risk and Prevention Estimates | HIV Risk and Prevention | HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 6 July 2020.
- HIV by Group | HIV/AIDS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Accessed 5 July 2020.
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