February 17, 2017

HIV Testing in Fresno, CA

HIV TESTING IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA

Regular HIV testing is one of the most important tests you should undertake. HIV testing should, in fact, be an integral part your overall health. If you are sexually active, we strongly encourage you to get tested at least once every six months. You should also watch out for HIV symptoms and seek medical attention.
At Valley STD, we offer the following services:
• HIV testing
• HIV test education
• HIV counseling and treatment referrals

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIV TESTING IN FRESNO

At Valley STD, we offer two ways of testing HIV virus. One is the Rapid HIV testing where the blood is taken from a finger stick, and the test results are available within 10 to 40 minutes. However, one can choose his or her blood to be drawn and results will be available after 1-2 weeks. This type of test is called conventional test.
Private and confidential HIV testing is provided by Valley STD professionals who care a lot about your needs and concerns. The results are and must be given personally.
The rapid HIV test results can either be negative or reactive. Negative means that the person has no infection while the reactive means there might be an infection.
Fresno also provides daily pill (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) that people with high risk for HIV take to prevent HIV infection. Everyone who gets tested should ask about it.

HOW HIV TESTS WORKS

Rapid Tests

In rapid tests, HIV antibodies in the blood are checked. The HIV antigens are put on one strip along the rapid test stick and on the end of the test stick control antigens are put to show that the test worked.
The test blood is then placed at the end of the test stick. A chemical: (buffer) is then added to aid the testing process. The buffer makes antibodies in the test blood to move along the test stick. If the blood has antibodies present, then they will stick to the antigen changing color as they pass over.
If there is one strip after the test then it is a negative result. Two strips show a positive result. If there is no strip then it means the test was faulty.

Conventional test

The conventional test looks for genetic material from the HIV virus; the test is also known as (PCR): Polymerase chain reaction.
The genetic material can either be RNA (single strand) or DNA (double strand). These are long-chained-sections genetic materials for making new virus.
A test blood should be amplified multiply to get a measurable amount of DNA or RNA. DNA tests are used for infants born to infected mothers and results are positive or negative. RNA tests are for adults before and after treatment.
The PCR test gives a quantifiable result that is not just positive or negative but also the amount of virus in the blood can be detected. The final result is always in copies per milliliter (copies/mL). The minimum level (sensitivity) is 50 copies/mL; below this is the result is termed as undetectable.

Get tested regularly in Fresno for HIV to stay safe and healthy

20 percent of the people living with HIV don’t know their status and most infections are transmitted by these people. It is therefore very important that one should get tested and get to learn about symptoms of HIV and Aids.
Rapid tests are simple, takes less time (about one hour). An appointment is not necessary and service is by professionals.
If you live in Fresno, you ought to get informed on HIV/AIDS, reducing the risk, how to practice safer sex, daily pills for those with a high risk of infection and a copy of your results on your way back. Visit our Valley STD offices today in fresno