How to Test for HIV
Disease description:
I would like to go to the hospital for an HIV test to determine whether I have been infected with HIV, but I’m unsure which test to undergo. Could you please advise how HIV testing is performed?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Currently, there are three primary methods for HIV testing:
1. **HIV antibody testing**: This is the most commonly used method and can detect infection as early as approximately three weeks after exposure.
2. **HIV antibody and p24 antigen combination testing**: This test can identify infection within 2–6 weeks after exposure.
3. **Nucleic acid testing (NAT)**: By directly detecting viral genetic material, NAT can confirm HIV infection within 1–4 weeks after exposure.
