What is the HIV Rapid Test?
What is the HIV Rapid Test?
The Rapid HIV test finds HIV antibodies in your blood. The majority of people will develop enough HIV antibodies to be detected three to four weeks after infection. In 30 minutes you will get the result from your Rapid HIV test eliminating the stress of waiting for several days for results.
Your HIV Rapid test will be booked for as early as you please within opening hours. You turn up and a drop of your blood is taken. It may be drawn, but in most cases, your finger is pricked and a few drops of blood are taken.
The blood is tested, which takes around thirty minutes. After half an hour has elapsed, the blood will show to be reactive, un-reactive in inconclusive. If your test is inconclusive or reactive, then you will be advised upon what to do next and you will have to do the standard HIV test, which takes up to a week to generate results.
Rapid Vs Standard Test?
The standard test is the one you probably know already, where blood is drawn and tested, and you get your results in a few days. A rapid test is an “Alere HIV antibody/antigen test.” It is a different type of test that gives results in around thirty minutes based on if the test was reactive, un-reactive, or inconclusive.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has allowed this sort of testing in order to give people a quicker idea if they are stricken with HIV.
There is also the THOR study. This uses the Oraquick rapid HIV test and is often used for people that are at a high risk of HIV. Era Health doctors have taken all the required training for Rapid HIV tests as set out by the TGA.
If your blood needs to be taken for a standard test, then you will be advised on what you may do whilst you wait for your results. There is a small possibility that if you are treated quickly enough that you may experience a turnaround, though this is relatively rare. If you would like further testing on your blood for other sexually transmitted diseases, then our team are happy to test in the clinic and/or send your sample off to be tested at a medical center.
At Era Health Doctor Melbourne CBD clinic, we are currently one of the few clinics that provide HIV rapid test.
To make an appointment you need to call our clinic on 03 9944 6200
IMPORTANT NOTICE: For HIV Rapid Test, you can’t make an appointment online as you will require two different type appointments, one with the Nurse and then another one with the Doctor.
The blood sample is taken and applied to our testing device. You are then asked to sit in the waiting room whilst we test your blood. This will usually take around thirty minutes. Upon the result, you will be advised what to do next.
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