HIV Transmission and Testing Overview

Transmission Methods

• Body Fluids: HIV is transmitted through specific body fluids:
  • Blood
  • Semen
  • Vaginal fluids
  • Breast milk
• High-Risk Activities:
  • Unprotected sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal, oral)
  • Sharing needles/syringes (e.g., drug use)
  • Vertical transmission (from mother to child during childbirth or breastfeeding)
• Lower Risk Activities:
  • Oral sex (risk is present but lower compared to penetrative sex)
  • Kissing (if no open sores are present)
• Not Transmitted Through:
  • Air or water
  • Casual contact (hugging, shaking hands)
  • Insect bites

Testing And Diagnosis

• Types of Tests:

  • Antibody Tests: Detect antibodies to HIV; can take weeks to months after infection to be detectable.
    • Examples: ELISA, rapid antibody tests
  • Antigen/Antibody Tests: Detect both HIV antibodies and antigens; can identify HIV earlier than antibodies alone.
  • Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT): Detects the actual virus in the blood; used in specific scenarios (e.g., high-risk exposures).

• Testing Recommendations:

  • Routine testing for sexually active individuals, especially those at high risk.
  • Testing during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

• Diagnosis Criteria:

  • Positive test results on approved HIV tests.
  • Follow-up confirmation tests may be needed to finalize diagnosis.

• Window Period: The time between potential exposure to HIV and the point when the test will give an accurate result; varies by test type.

Transmission Methods

• HIV is transmitted through specific bodily fluids including blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk.
• High-risk activities for transmission include unprotected sexual intercourse (anal, vaginal, oral), sharing needles or syringes, and vertical transmission from a mother to a child during childbirth or breastfeeding.
• Activities with a lower risk of transmission include oral sex and kissing, but only if there are no open sores.
• HIV is not transmitted through air, water, casual contact (hugging, shaking hands) or insect bites.

Testing and Diagnosis

• There are different types of HIV tests:
  • Antibody Tests: Detect antibodies to HIV. These tests can take weeks to months after infection to be detectable. Examples include ELISA and rapid antibody tests.
  • Antigen/Antibody Tests: Detect both HIV antibodies and antigens. This allows for earlier identification of HIV compared to antibody tests alone.
  • Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT): Detect the actual virus in the blood. These tests are used in specific situations, for example, after high-risk exposures.
• Testing recommendations include routine testing for sexually active individuals, especially those at higher risk, and testing during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
• A diagnosis of HIV is made based on a positive result on approved HIV tests. Follow-up confirmation tests may be needed to finalize the diagnosis.
• The window period is the time between potential exposure to HIV and the point when the test can accurately detect the virus. The length of the window period varies depending on the type of test performed.

This quiz covers key concepts related to the transmission methods of HIV, including body fluids involved and high- and lower-risk activities. It also discusses various testing methods, their accuracy, and the timeline for detection after exposure. Test your knowledge on how HIV is transmitted and diagnosed!