How to Determine if Someone is an HIV Carrier
Feb 13, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Feng
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, methods to determine HIV carriers include immune function tests, HIV antibody tests, HIV nucleic acid testing, symptom observation, urine tests, and others. If necessary, timely medical consultation is recommended. The HIV virus causes a gradual decrease in the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes. If test results indicate CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion, etc.
Generally, methods for determining HIV carriers include immune function tests, HIV antibody tests, HIV nucleic acid tests, symptom observation, urine tests, and others. If necessary, timely medical consultation is recommended. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Immune Function Test
HIV leads to a gradual decrease in the number of CD4+ T lymphocytes. If the test results show CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion, peripheral blood lymphocyte depletion, or negative delayed hypersensitivity skin tests, the individual can usually be preliminarily identified as an HIV carrier.
2. HIV Antibody Test
Antibody testing typically utilizes methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gelatin particle agglutination assay, and immunofluorescence assay, which are highly accurate. If HIV antibodies are detected in the blood and remain positive upon retesting, the individual can be determined as an HIV carrier.
3. HIV Nucleic Acid Test
This test can directly detect the presence of HIV and assess the viral load in the body. If the nucleic acid test result is positive, it indicates the presence of active HIV in the body, thereby identifying the individual as an HIV carrier.
4. Symptom Observation
HIV carriers may exhibit a series of symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, persistent fever, weakness, and night sweats. Although some carriers may not display any symptoms, symptom observation can still serve as a reference for preliminary determination.
5. Urine Test
HIV antibodies may appear in urine and can be detected using specific test strips. Collecting the urine sample from a potentially infected individual and applying it to the sample well of the test card, if one line appears in both the control region and the test region, indicates a positive result, and the individual can be preliminarily identified as an HIV carrier.
In daily life, preventive measures such as using condoms and avoiding sharing needles can help control virus transmission and protect individual health.
