Are HIV test strips accurate?
May 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Feng
Introduction
HIV test strips have high accuracy, but they cannot serve as the sole basis for a final diagnosis; results should be interpreted in conjunction with hospital testing. The accuracy of a single use of an HIV test strip after the window period can reach 95%-97%, and repeated testing using strips from different brands can achieve an accuracy of over 99%. However, false positives and false negatives are still possible with test strip screening.
Generally, HIV test strips have high accuracy, but they cannot serve as the sole basis for a final diagnosis. A comprehensive evaluation combining hospital test results is required. The specific analysis is as follows:
After the window period, the accuracy rate of a single use of HIV test strips can reach 95%-97%. When testing multiple times using different brand strips, the accuracy rate can exceed 99%. However, false positives and false negatives are still possible with strip testing, so they cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis. False positives may be caused by other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, or immune responses, while false negatives may occur when antibodies have not yet developed during the early stage of infection.
The accuracy of test results can be affected by multiple factors, including the quality of the test strips, whether the procedure was performed correctly, and whether sample collection and storage were appropriate. Therefore, strictly following the instructions and conducting testing after the window period are key to improving accuracy. There are three main types of HIV test strips: blood test strips, oral fluid test strips, and urine test strips. All of these use colloidal gold immunochromatographic technology to detect HIV antibodies or antigens in blood, oral fluid, or urine to determine infection status.
When used and selected correctly, HIV test strips offer high accuracy, but they cannot replace confirmatory testing at a hospital. If the test strip result is positive or suspected positive, it is essential to visit a hospital or disease control center for more accurate tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, or nucleic acid testing, to confirm the diagnosis.
