diagnosis

Last reviewed 01/2018

The presence of virus antibodies to the HIV can be detected by ELISA or western blot techniques.

A protocol for diagnosis is as follows:

• positive result: repeat with 2 different assays
• still positive: request a second sample
• still positive after 3 more assays: report as positive

It should be noted that antibodies to HIV may not appear until up to as long as 6 months after infection with HIV; where there is doubt, retest at 3 and 6 months.

It is very important to counsel any patient before the HIV antibody test so that they understand the implications of a positive result.

The patient should be encouraged to think about how they might react to the news.

The implications for life insurance and mortgage applications should be discussed.