Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body's immune system. If HIV infection is not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, the immune system gradually weakens, leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS is the final and most severe stage of HIV infection, when the body becomes highly vulnerable to various infections and certain cancers.
A person living with HIV may have no symptoms or complaints for many years. It is not possible to tell whether a sexual partner has HIV based on their appearance.
Today, thanks to early diagnosis and effective treatment, people living with HIV can live long, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is transmitted through three main routes:
Sexual transmission: Through unprotected sexual intercourse.
Blood transmission: Through contact with infected blood or by sharing needles, syringes, or other sharp instruments.
Mother-to-child transmission: During pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding if preventive measures are not taken.
HIV is NOT transmitted through:
Handshakes or hugging.
Sharing food or eating utensils.
Using public transportation, swimming pools, or the same toilet.
Mosquito bites or bites from other insects.
How can you protect yourself?
Practice safer behaviors and reduce your risk of HIV infection.
Use condoms correctly and consistently during sexual intercourse.
Use only sterile, single-use needles and injection equipment.
Ensure that only sterile instruments are used during medical or cosmetic procedures.
If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV, consult a healthcare professional about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Get tested for HIV regularly, and if diagnosed with HIV, start treatment as soon as possible.
When treatment is taken consistently, the virus can be suppressed to an undetectable level. This allows people living with HIV to maintain their health, live full and active lives, work, build families, and have healthy children.
Early diagnosis and timely treatment of HIV prevent further transmission of the virus. Treatment is also a form of prevention.
About the OraQuick HIV Self-Test
The OraQuick HIV Self-Test is a simple oral fluid test that allows you to test yourself for HIV quickly, privately, and confidentially.
When should you use the test?
The test may not detect a recently acquired HIV infection.
If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV within the past 3 months, consult a healthcare provider for additional testing and counseling.
How to use the test
1. Prepare: After brushing your teeth or using mouthwash, wait at least 30 minutes. After eating, drinking, or smoking, wait at least 15 minutes before taking the test.
2. Prepare the test: Open the package and place the small test tube into the stand provided. Remove the cap from the tube.
3. Collect the sample: Remove the test stick from the package. Do not touch the flat pad with your fingers. Firmly swipe the pad once along the outer upper gum. Repeat the same procedure along the outer lower gum using the same pad.
4. Insert the test: Immediately place the test stick into the tube until it touches the bottom.
5. Wait: Leave the test in the tube for 20 minutes before reading the result. Do not leave it for more than 40 minutes.
Interpreting the results
Negative result: One red line appears on the test.
A negative result means that HIV antibodies were not detected.
If you have recently had a possible exposure to HIV, you may need to repeat the test after two weeks.
Positive result: Two red lines appear on the test.
A positive result does not yet mean that you have HIV infection.
All positive self-test results must be confirmed by additional laboratory testing.
Need help?
If you have questions about HIV, the self-test, or your test results, you can contact:
If your test result is positive, or if you believe you may have been exposed to HIV, contact NCID as soon as possible for counseling, confirmatory testing, and further support.
