hiv test singapore

HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus to give it its full title, is really a special form of virus, known as a retrovirus, which attacks your body's immune system via the CD4 cells which are present in the blood and would normally be utilized to fight off infection. Whilst the retrovirus moves through the body, it breaks down and then reassembles the DNA in your body's cells, so making copies of and spreading the'bad'DNA. As more and more cells are affected, therefore the immune system becomes weaker and weaker until eventually it stops working altogether, leaving the body at risk of fatal diseases and infections. Although there's no cure for HIV, you can find treatments available that assist most people to call home relatively normal lives with the virus, but obviously key to receiving treatment is comprehending that you've hiv screening singapore in the initial place and that means taking a confidential HIV test.

 

How is HIV transmitted?

 

HIV is passed from individual to individual via bodily fluids. Although in some cases it's transmitted through the sharing of needles by intravenous drug abusers, it may also be passed from mothers for their unborn children; could be contracted through accidental needlestick incidents; and could be spread via contaminated blood products. Definitely the most common method for HIV to be transmitted, however, is through unprotected sexual contact, including through oral and anal sex. Both homosexuals and heterosexuals are at risk from receiving the virus, making it needed for anyone who could potentially have come into experience of a carrier to take a confidential HIV test in order to avoid spreading the virus further and in order that they and some other sexual partners can seek treatment.

 

What's the connection between HIV and AIDS?

 

When the body reaches the stage where it cannot provide any immunity against disease or infection and so the person develops a life-threatening illness such as cancer, pneumonia or tuberculosis, this is recognized as AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Essentially, AIDS is merely the advanced or late stage of HIV. People who take a confidential HIV test and take advantage of many new treatments for HIV that have been developed in more recent years can often decelerate the spread of the virus and extend their life expectancy greatly. Without such treatment, HIV is likely to spread a whole lot more quickly and the AIDS stage is reached much sooner.

 

What does a confidential HIV test involve?

 

Generally, a confidential HIV test simply involves taking a small amount of blood from the arm for testing, although using instances saliva or urine may also be used. The test itself looks for HIV antibodies in the blood, saliva or urine and basically if they are found, this indicates the clear presence of HIV in the system. Antibodies are just created by the body to test and react contrary to the virus, however it takes some time because of this to happen. Generally, antibodies will soon be present within 3 months of being confronted with the virus, but it might take provided that six months for there to be sufficient levels to exhibit up in the test. Anyone getting a negative result within 3 months of potential exposure to the virus is therefore advised to take a further confidential HIV test six months after the last activity which might have generated infection to create absolutely certain that they are clear.