Hello:
This answer is in response to your question posted on yahoo about knowing your HIV status.
The answer is no. You must have a blood test to check for the HIV antibodies. If the antibodies are present then the lab will confirm them with a test called a "Western Blot". There are newer kits you can purchase that you swab the inner cheek area with a swab and send it in to a laboratory and they can check that way but it is very expensive. I would just go to your regular physician and ask for HIV 1&2 antibody testing.
Now, if you are really far along and have actual AIDS, there are some AIDS defining illnesses that tell a doctor that you are positive even without a test, but like I said, these would occur far along, years after you are infected. Things such as Kaposi Sarcoma (a type of skin cancer that is purple colored), a yeast infection in your esophagus, pneumocystis pneumonia are called "AIDS defining illnesses so if you had any of these then the doctor would know you had AIDS even without a blood test.
I hope this answered your question and alleviated some of you concerns.
Regards,
Warren Shaffer, M.D.
2006-07-26 05:45:57
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answer #1
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answered by doctordad 3
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NO. The only way for a person to find out his/her HIV status is to get tested. There are 3 ways to get tested for HIV : oral swab in the mouth, finger stick, or blood draw from the arm. If the person chooses the rapid test, he/she can get the results in about 20-30 minutes. Otherwise, the person has to wait for about 1-2 weeks for results.
2006-07-26 07:30:53
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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No, to know your satus you have to get a Elisas test, you will know at 13 weeks after exposure to the virus, that test detects the antivirus that your body develops to fight to the HIV.
However sometimes your blood cells count is lower when the hiv is present (so it is showed in a regular blood test) but it doesnt mean that you have hiv.
2006-07-26 05:40:58
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answer #3
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answered by Vane 4
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If you want to know whether you and your partner have HIV or not, you must have to to do HIV testing in a Voluntary testing and counselling centre. If you have HIV + ve, then you may have to do CD4 cell count at regular interval.
2006-07-26 05:56:21
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answer #4
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answered by spbwb 1
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No, HIV can only be detected by a blood test. There is no *one* symtom for AIDS so you cannot find out.
2006-07-26 04:59:19
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answer #5
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answered by Cold Fire 1
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No - some people do not show any symptoms for years. There are also a few people who never show any symptoms for years.
Go get a test if you are worried, especially if you are in a high-risk group.
2006-07-26 08:06:54
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answer #6
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answered by puck_in_ms 3
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THERE IS ONLY ONE TYPE OF TEST AND THATS AND HIV/AIDS TEST, IT DONT HURT NOR TAKE LONG, THINK U SHOULD TRY IT!!
2006-07-26 04:59:02
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answer #7
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answered by B W 2
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You can have some home test or hospital test .....that is the only way
2006-07-28 01:53:06
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answer #8
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answered by kida_w 5
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yeah when other people you sleeping with start dying
2006-07-26 06:02:47
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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NO
2006-07-26 04:58:13
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answer #10
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answered by essentiallysolo 7
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