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If your viral load result is undetectable, there is only a little HIV in the body. The aim of HIV treatment is to have an...
From: The basics
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HIV testing in the UK is free, voluntary and confidential. You can be tested at an NHS sexual health clinic, a GP surgery or a...
From: The basics
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Staff at your HIV clinic use various tests to keep an eye on your health. Many of these tests are done on samples of your...
From: The basics
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It’s important for all people with HIV to have regular blood tests. The two most important blood tests are for CD4 and viral load.CD4 and...
From: The basics
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Rapid
tests are usually reliable for long-standing infections, but are sometimes
unable to detect recent HIV infections...
From: Factsheets
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These
are the recommended tests for routine use in the UK.They
test for p24 antigen as well...
From: Factsheets
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Blood samples that you collect yourself and send
off for analysis are usually tested with fourth-generation laboratory assays. The method is expected to be extremely accurate,
although...
From: Factsheets
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Most devices for self-testing (home testing) are
modified versions of professional tests, with comparable sensitivity and
specificity.Self-tests are usually
reliable for long-standing infections,...
From: Factsheets
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The presence of antiretrovirals may suppress the
immune response and the production of antibodies.Rapid tests and self-tests should not be used to
confirm HIV infection in people...
From: Factsheets
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Tests always produce a small number of false
positive results.In settings where very few people have HIV, a
higher proportion of reactive results will be false positives.To...
From: Factsheets
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False negative results most often occur when
people test in the first few weeks after infection, during the ‘window period’.After this, they are extremely rare.
In most...
From: Factsheets
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Modern HIV tests are able to detect most
infections within a month of exposure.They can detect almost all infections within two
months.Fourth-generation laboratory tests have shorter
window periods...
From: Factsheets
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The sensitivity of a test is the percentage of results that will be correctly positive when HIV is actually present. Lower rates of sensitivity will...
From: Factsheets
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The sooner you know you have HIV, the sooner you can get the medical care you need. If you know you have HIV, you can...
From: The basics
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People living with HIV should have regular blood tests to monitor liver function.The liver plays an important role in processing drugs used to treat HIV...
From: Factsheets
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Many GPs offer services which are not available at your HIV clinic.To access a GP you must be registered as their patient.You don't have to...
From: Factsheets
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It’s useful to prepare questions before seeing your doctor.Blood tests are an essential part of HIV care.Your HIV doctor may refer you to see other...
From: Factsheets
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This booklet provides information on living well with HIV as
you get older.
...
From: Booklets
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As you get older, it’s even more important to regularly
attend clinic appointments and stay in touch with your healthcare providers.
Your HIV clinic appointments will include...
From: Booklets
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People living with HIV who have a low CD4 count sometimes also have low levels of other blood cells.Some of these problems may be caused...
From: Factsheets
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CD4 cell counts give an indication of the health of your immune system.Your CD4 cell count should go up when you take HIV treatment.Monitoring CD4...
From: Factsheets
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Effective HIV treatment results in a fall in viral loadAn undetectable viral load is the aim of HIV treatment.People who are taking effective HIV treatment...
From: Factsheets
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When your bones are thinner, a trip or fall can
result in a broken bone.
Exercise and other lifestyle changes are good
for your bones.
People aged 50+ and...
From: Factsheets
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Every time you
visit your clinic for a check-up you’ll have some blood tests. As well as being
used to monitor your CD4 cell count and viral...
From: Booklets
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This booklet provides information on tests used to monitor health, including CD4 counts and viral load testing. ...
From: Booklets
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HIV may contribute to kidney disease but the two
most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure.Lifestyle changes can help keep kidney disease
under control.Your HIV...
From: Factsheets
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Changes to your lifestyle can reduce your risk
of diabetes.Diabetes requires frequent monitoring and can
have serious consequences if left untreated.
Rates of diabetes are higher in people...
From: Factsheets
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Excess cholesterol raises the risk of heart disease and
stroke.Diet, exercise and smoking all have an impact on cholesterol
levels.Some anti-HIV drugs may raise cholesterol levels....
From: Factsheets
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Looking after your
sexual health is important for anyone, but particularly so if you are living
with HIV.
If you are sexually
active, it is important to have...
From: Factsheets
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NAM's factsheet on being diagnosed with HIV when already at a low CD4 cell count...
From: Factsheets
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With the right treatment and care people with HIV live long and healthy lives.You may experience many different emotions when you first find out you...
From: Factsheets
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HIV tests are available in lots of healthcare settings. Home HIV testing is also available.Laboratory tests are the most accurate but rapid tests can be...
From: Factsheets
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Self-sampling and self-testing are new options for taking an HIV test.You don't need to see a doctor or nurse to use home testing kits.HIV tests...
From: Factsheets
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Your
child will have regular clinic appointments, generally every three to four
months. These visits usually involve a number of tests, to see whether HIV is
affecting their...
From: Booklets
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It
is very important that children born to women living with HIV are tested for
HIV. Ideally, this should happen at birth (see below). But if this...
From: Booklets
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This briefing paper, produced by NAM for HIV Prevention England, provides an overview of HIV diagnostic tests for people planning, commissioning or providing HIV prevention...
From: HIV prevention briefing papers
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To
protect your immune system and maintain your health and wellbeing, it is
recommended that you have regular medical monitoring at an HIV specialist
centre (this is often...
From: Booklets
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If
you are over 50, like all women in the UK, you should be called for a
breast screen (mammogram) every three years to check for the...
From: Booklets
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Most of us have our HIV monitored and treated at a specialist hospital clinic.
We are usually treated as outpatients - in other words, we...
From: Booklets
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If you are ‘HIV positive’ this means that you have a virus
called HIV in your body. It doesn’t mean that you are ill, or that...
From: Booklets
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Before
you start taking anti-HIV drugs, or if you need to switch to a new combination,
you should have a number of blood tests.
To
help make sure...
From: Booklets
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Find out where you can have a test for HIV, hepatitis or other sexually transmitted infections across Europe....
From: European test finder
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Current approaches to HIV testing are to make it a normal rather than exceptional medical event, for it to be offered in a wide range...
From: HIV transmission & testing
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You should have your blood pressure monitored regularly as part of your HIV care.HIV drugs can interact with other medicines to affect blood pressure.Blood pressure...
From: Factsheets
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Information on medical tests, including CD4 cell counts, viral load measurements, and procedures carried out for medical problems commonly experienced by HIV-positive people....
From: HIV treatments directory
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A list of medical tests and procedures for problems commonly encountered by HIV-positive people in the UK, detailing what they involve, and when and why...
From: HIV treatments directory