Question

Name the tests done for the diagnosis and confirmation of AIDS.

Answer 1

The primary tests for diagnosing HIV and AIDs include:

1) ELISA Test — ELISA, which stands for Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, is used to detect HIV infection. If an ELISA test is positive, the Western blot test is usually administered to confirm the diagnosis.

2) Saliva Tests — A cotton pad is used to obtain saliva from the inside of your cheek. The pad is placed in a vial and submitted to a laboratory for testing. Results are available in three days. Positive results should be confirmed with a blood test.

3) Viral Load Test — This test measures the amount of HIV in the blood. Generally, it's used to monitor treatment progress or detect early HIV infection. Three technologies measure HIV viral load in the blood: reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), branched DNA (bDNA) and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay (NASBA). The basic principles of these tests are similar. HIV is detected using DNA sequences that bind specifically to those in the virus. It is important to note that results may vary between tests.

4) Western Blot — This is a very sensitive blood test used to confirm a positive ELISA test result.