| AIDS diagnosis can be done using body fluids (like | | | | then the person is said to be HIV positive or |
| blood, saliva), or by using body cells (such as those | | | | seropositive. |
| from the inside of the cheek) of the patient as the | | | | However, there are some drawbacks to the IFA |
| sample for HIV testing. | | | | Test and they are as follows: |
| Currently, there are two types of tests that are | | | | 1) The HIV specific antibodies are not detectable until |
| very commonly used to diagnose an HIV infection in | | | | 3 to 6 months after contacting the infection |
| a person. The first test is called ELISA (Enzyme | | | | 2) The prolonged wait until the results of the test |
| Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test, which looks for | | | | are available. |
| the presence of antibodies produced by the host's | | | | To overcome this drawback, another test known as |
| body in response to the attack by the Human | | | | the Rapid Test (which has almost the same level of |
| Immunodeficiency Virus. The second test is called | | | | accuracy as the ELISA test) is being used currently. |
| PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, which looks | | | | It gives the results in just 5 to 30 minutes, although |
| for the presence of the Human Immunodeficiency | | | | the test is comparatively much more expensive. |
| Virus itself in the body of the host. | | | | The PCR test is capable of detecting the genetic |
| If the ELISA test is positive, it indicates that the | | | | material of HIV and can, therefore, detect the |
| antibodies (specific to the Human Immunodeficiency | | | | presence of the virus in a person's within a few days |
| Virus) are present in the host's body. However, this | | | | of contacting the infection. |
| positive result of the ELISA test needs to be | | | | Other tests for diagnosing HIV include Radio Immuno |
| confirmed by conducting others more specific tests | | | | Precipitation Assay (RIPA), Rapid Latex Agglutination |
| such as the Western Blot or Immunoflouroscent | | | | Assay, and p24 Antigen Capture Assay. |
| Assay (IFA). If the result of this test is also positive, | | | | |