HIV Testing Singapore | HIV PEP
HIV Testing in Singapore: HIV is a viral infection that weakens the immune system and makes you unable to combat other infections. HIV is commonly caused by unprotected sex.
Diagnosis of HIV
HIV is usually diagnosed by testing for antibodies (protective proteins produced by the patient’s immune system) against HIV in blood or saliva samples. It may take 3-6 months after exposure to develop a detectable level of antibodies against HIV. Hence, the test is not useful for individuals who have been exposed to HIV recently.
To test for HIV in Singapore, in-home test kits are available to screen yourself for HIV infection. Your saliva sample is used for HIV testing. The testing kit analyzes HIV antibodies in the saliva and detects antibodies if present in the sample. You need to swab the upper and lower gums of your mouth to get the sample. The results are available within 20-40 minutes. If the test is positive, you need to visit a doctor to confirm the diagnosis with a blood test.
Your doctor may ask for other newer diagnostic tests, such as rapid antibody/antigen tests and western blot analysis, which can detect the protein components of the virus. The test confirm HIV infection within days of exposure. Early diagnosis of HIV can allow for early treatment, and for the use of preventive measures to avoid HIV transmission to others.
Once you are confirmed to have HIV, your doctor will regularly monitor you by checking your CD4 count. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that is targeted by HIV. Low CD4 count implies HIV progression. Similarly, viral load tests and drug resistance tests may be used by doctors to measure how much virus is in your blood and to detect resistance of the virus to certain medications. Both tests may affect what treatment is used.
Your doctor may also order other lab tests to diagnose HIV-associated complications and opportunistic diseases, including urinary tract infections, toxoplasmosis, other STDs, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and liver and kidney damage.