HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test
Results
A Reference human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Opens New Window test detects Reference antibodies Opens New Window to HIV or the genetic material (Reference DNA Opens New Window or Reference RNA Opens New Window) of HIV in blood or another type of sample. This determines whether an HIV infection is present (HIV-positive). ELISA results are usually available in 2 to 4 days. Results of the other tests, such as the Western blot or IFA, take 1 to 2 weeks.
| Normal: |
No HIV antibodies are found. Normal results are called negative. |
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If an antibody test is done during the Reference seroconversion period Opens New Window and is negative, repeat testing is needed. Most people have antibodies to HIV within 6 months after becoming infected. If a repeat test at 6 months is negative, there is no infection. |
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A Reference PCR Opens New Window test to look for genetic material does not detect any RNA or DNA of HIV. |
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| Uncertain: |
Test results do not clearly show whether a person has an HIV infection. This is usually called an indeterminate result. It may occur before HIV antibodies develop or when some other type of antibody is interfering with the results. If this occurs, a PCR test, which detects HIV RNA or DNA, may be done to see if the virus is present. |
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A person who still has indeterminate results for 6 months or longer is called "stable indeterminate" and is not considered to be infected with HIV. |
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| Abnormal: |
HIV antibodies are found. These results are called positive. |
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A positive ELISA is repeated using the same blood sample. If two or more ELISA results are positive, they must be confirmed by a Western blot or IFA test. |
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A PCR test finds genetic material (RNA or DNA) of HIV. |
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference November 7, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine |
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