HIV Test Price, Types, Purpose & Time [2024]
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test detects if the patient becomes infected with HIV. HIV is an infectious disease. Thus, its early detection is imperative. There are different types of HIV tests for other purposes. We will try to provide a simple explanation. HIV test is free in a government facility, whereas its prices range from Rs 500 to Rs 800 in a private facility.
HIV virus enters and weakens the immune system. This viral infection leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). It is prevalent in the younger generation. Nearly One million people still die every year from the virus because they don’t know they have HIV and are not on treatment or start treatment late.
AIDS is the ultimate stage of all the manifestations caused by HIV. HIV AIDS is one of the most dangerous sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). HIV testing is essential to living a doubtless and healthy lifestyle.
HIV test details in Brief
| Also known as | HIV tridot, HIV comprehensive panel, HIV saliva test, oral HIV test, HIV PCR test, HIV 1 & 2, HIV Duo, HIV p24 test. |
| Purpose | Diagnosis of HIV infection. |
| Preparation | No special preparation is required. |
| Fasting | Usually not required except HIV-1 RNA Real Quantitative PCR. |
| Reporting time | 24 hours to 30 days |
| Cost | Rs 500 to Rs 800 |
HIV tests Price in India
HIV Test price depends on the type of the test, diagnostic centre and city. The tables below list the HIV 1 and 2 antibody test prices for different cities and diagnostic centres in India.
Price at Popular Diagnostic Centres
| Diagnostic Centre | Test Price |
|---|---|
| Dr Lal Path lab | Rs 480 |
| Thyrocare | Rs 400 |
| Metropolis Healthcare | Rs 600 |
| SRL Diagnostic | Rs 1000 |
HIV test Prices in different cities
You can click on the following link to get the diagnostic centre list and HIV test costs in your city.
| City Name | Price Range |
|---|---|
| HIV tests in Delhi | Rs 208 to 480 |
| HIV tests in Mumbai | Rs 315 to 480 |
| HIV tests in Bangalore | Rs 315 to 480 |
| HIV tests in Hyderabad | Rs 360 to 497 |
| HIV tests in Gurgaon | Rs 250 to 560 |
| HIV tests in Chennai | Rs 315 to 480 |
| HIV tests in Kolkata | Rs 500 |
There are many different types of HIV test that differ in their purpose and depends on the stage of infection. Thus, the common price range for these tests are
| Test Type | Price (Tentative Range) |
|---|---|
| HIV 1 and 2 Antibody | Rs 500 |
| HIV P24 Antigen | Rs 600 |
| HIV 1 Quantitative RNA PCR | Rs 3500 |
| HIV Western Blot | Rs 2500 |
| HIV 1 Qualitative PCR | Rs 2000 |
| HIV Viral load | Rs 2000 |
Bookmerilab partners with multiple diagnostic centres all over India to provide medical diagnostic at an affordable cost with assured quality. You can contact us at 08882-36-8882 for details and booking.
What are the different types of HIV strains in India and the world?
There are two main types of HIV strains. These are HIV-1 and HIV-2. Each strain has different subtypes.
- HIV-1: It is the most common HIV strain in India. It is highly infectious.
- HIV-2: Mainly concentrated in West Africa and the other countries surrounding it. It is relatively uncommon and less infectious.
Purpose of the HIV test
- To identify the presence of HIV in the bloodstream at the earliest so that the patient can start the treatment quickly for living a better and longer life.
- Your doctor may use it as a routine screen test or as a diagnostic test in people who are possibly exposed to HIV.
- To contain the unexpected infection dissemination of HIV to healthy individuals.
- A pregnant lady should get it done at the earliest so that she won’t pass it to her baby.
- To assess the risk of disease after unplanned sexual intercourse.
- For the prevention of HIV spread to the baby before delivery.
When to get tested for HIV test?
Timing is important to get accurate HIV test results. If a person gets tested too early, the report will give a false positive or negative reading. The person should wait for a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks from the time of sexual intercourse or any other risk exposure before taking your test. If found positive, then the patients shall retest at the end of 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. The risky exposure means the intravenous injection of drugs. If you are sexually active, regular testing is advised. HIV testing may take some time to become detectable, and the patient must wait to ensure an accurate result.
Why is it essential to get HIV tested?
Getting tested is the only method to know your HIV status and taking symptoms for granted is not right. If a person had a potential exposure, he should get tested since there may only be a flu-like syndrome or no symptoms at all if there is HIV infection. Getting tested is the only method to know your HIV status and taking symptoms for granted is not right. Some patients misinterpret any common cold or flu-like symptoms with HIV without getting diagnosed, which causes unnecessary worries. In a majority of such cases, no HIV is detected.
Your doctor will advise you when to get tested for HIV. If detected early, HIV is easy to manage and therefore, the patient’s life expectancy can be improved to near normal. If you had no potential exposure, even then CDC recommends that persons between the age of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV once in their lifetimes.
Procedures of different types of HIV tests:
There are different types of tests available in the diagnostic labs. They vary as per the time taken to show results. The procedures of different HIV tests are as follows.
Rapid HIV blood test
- Take an HIV Testing Kit
- Clean a portion of a finger with antiseptic.
- Collect a drop of blood after the finger prick.
Rapid HIV oral test
- This HIV test requires a self usable HIV testing kit.
- Take a swab from the teeth and upper/lower gums
- Use this blood test as a confirmatory measure.
Antibody test
- Clean the part with an antiseptic swab and then take a blood sample.
- Collect 1-4 ml of blood in a test tube.
- Supply your blood sample to the lab for a test.
HIV ELISA saliva test
- ELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
- Take a swab from the teeth and upper/lower gums.
- Place the swab in a buffer solution.
- If found positive, then the test is confirmatory.
Preparation for the HIV test
There is no preparation required for the HIV test. The only thing required is your willingness to get tested, as many people avoid HIV tests out of fear of disclosure.
What is the window period in HIV testing?
The window period is the time after infection and the appearance of symptoms. Before the window period, the infection markers (such as p24 antigen and antibodies) are still absent or too low to detect. HIV tests cannot always detect HIV infection during the window period.
What is seroconversion in HIV testing?
It is the appearance of antibodies in the patient’s serum after the instant of viral infection. The blood test gives results only after a person develops seroconversion. The blood test doesn’t provide results until a person develops seroconversion.
Types of HIV diagnostic Tests:
Diagnostic labs provide the following types of HIV tests
- HIV 1 & 2 antibodies screening test: This test analyses the blood sample taken from the patient’s veins. It is the most common HIV test.
- HIV 1 RNA quantitative real-time PCR with CD3/CD4/CD8: This test is useful for the detection of the HIV 1 variant. It works on the Polymerase chain reaction.
- HIV Duo (HIV+P24 Antigen): They can detect HIV earlier than antibody screening tests. They check for HIV antigen- a protein called p24, which is a part of the virus and shows up to 2 to 4 weeks. An antigen/antibody test requires blood sample withdrawal from the vein.
- HIV 1 & 2 antibodies Western blot: It is performed with gel electrophoresis to separate the proteins in the sample. These separated proteins are then analysed further for results.
- HIV 2 Detection, PCR: This test works on PCR and detects subtypes of HIV 2.
What tests monitor HIV?
Doctors can use several tests to monitor HIV testing. The two standard measures for HIV transmission are viral load and CD4 counts.
CD4 count
- The CD4 cells stand for the cluster of differentiation 4 glycoprotein based cells. These are a type of white blood cells. HIV targets and destroys CD4 cells. Without HIV treatment, the CD4 count will decline as HIV attacks the CD4 cells. If a person’s CD4 count drops below standard levels, their risk of developing certain diseases increases substantially.
- CD4 count of 200 cells per cubic millimetre of blood indicates stage 3 HIV or AIDS.
- If treatment is working, the CD4 count should remain constant or increase. This count is also a good indicator of overall immune function.
- Therefore, the CD4 count determines the efficacy of HIV testing and treatment.
HIV Viral load
- Viral load indicates the amount of HIV in the bloodstream. A health expert can measure the viral load to monitor the efficacy of HIV treatment and the HIV disease status.
- When a person’s viral load is low or undetectable, they are less likely to reach stage 3 HIV.
- Patients with undetectable viral loads should continue to use condoms and other barrier methods during sexual intercourse to prevent transmission to others.
Drug resistance
A Doctor may also order tests to learn if an HIV strain is resistant to any medications used in treatment. Drug resistance can help them decide which anti-HIV drug regimen is most appropriate.
Risks/Side effects of HIV Tests
There are no side effects of HIV tests. However, some might experience swelling, soreness, and bruises at the site of injection.
Result and interpretation
- A negative result indicates the absence of HIV infection, or the test might have been conducted too early. It takes a few weeks for antibodies and antigens to show up after being exposed to HIV.
- A positive result indicates the presence of HIV infection. Your doctor will ask for more tests to confirm the diagnosis.
- HIV is not a treatable disease but can be managed well with proper care and medication.
- There is no need to panic if the HIV test result is positive. Your HIV test will clear all your doubts. If you are diagnosed with HIV, it is important to visit your health care provider and take regular consultations on time.
HIV Test Normal Range
The HIV 1 and 2 Antibody test result range is as follows.
| Index Value | Remarks (Result) |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 | Negative or Normal. |
| Equal to or more than 1 | Positive. |
The HIV 1 RNA Quantitative Real-Time PCR test result range is as follows.
| Result in copies/mL | Result / Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Target not detected | HIV 1 RNA absent |
| Less than 20 | HIV 1 RNA is present in the lower limit of the linear range. |
| Greater than or equal to 20 to less than 1×107 | HIV 1 RNA is present within the lower limit of the linear range. |
| Greater than 1×107 | HIV 1 RNA is present above the lower limit of the linear range. |
HIV Test Sample Report
The samples of the HIV Test reports are as follows.
Frequently asked questions
HIV is more prevalent in people with no awareness of diseases. Proper awareness is important to prevent the spread of HIV in society.
Pregnant women need to get tested for HIV. If the mother has an HIV infection in early pregnancy, then HIV transmission from the mother to the baby can be prevented with timely HIV testing.
It is vital to get HIV tested so that the patient can start treatment as early as possible and live a tension-free and healthy life.
HIV damages the CD4 cells, thus harming the immune system.
HIV spreads through intermixing with body fluids of HIV infected individuals. These body fluids include blood, semen, mucus and breast milk. It spreads via sexual intercourse with infected persons, from mother to baby. Oral sex rarely infects HIV, as saliva is not conducive for HIV particles.
HIV tests are highly sensitive and might indicate a false positive. A follow-up test can ensure whether a person truly has HIV or not.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/test-types.html#:~:text=HIV%20tests%20are%20typically%20performed,an%20HIV%20viral%20load%20test
- https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-screening
- https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/learn-about-hiv-testing/who-should-get-tested
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HIV 1 & 2 Antibody Test
Dr Bhumika Rana
Dr Bhumika Rana is a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (B.A.M.S.). Earlier She was an Operation Specialist at AIIMS Delhi & a Medical officer with the National health mission.