• A NAT checks the blood for the actual virus and involves drawing blood from a vein. The test can either determine if a person is infected with HIV or determine the amount of virus in the blood (called an HIV viral load test). Although a NAT can detect HIV sooner than other types of tests, this test is very expensive and is not used routinely for screening individuals, unless they have recently been exposed to high risk or possible exposure and have early symptoms of HIV infection.
• An antigen / antibody test looks for both anti-HIV antibodies and antigens. Antibodies are produced by your immune system when you are exposed to viruses like HIV. Antigens are foreign substances that activate your immune system. If you have HIV, an antigen called p24 is produced before the antibodies even develop. Antigen / antibody tests are recommended for laboratory tests and are now common in the United States. This laboratory test involves drawing blood from a vein. There is also a rapid antigen / antibody test that is done with a finger prick.
• HIV antibody tests only look for anti-HIV antibodies in your blood or oral fluid. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests with blood from a finger prick or oral fluid. Most rapid tests and the only HIV self-test currently approved are antibody tests.
Talk to your healthcare professional about the type of HIV test that is right for you.
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Molecular and Genetic Medicine
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Molecular and Genetic Medicine
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Journal of Molecular Biomarkers & Diagnosis
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Molecular Biomarkers & Diagnosis
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Molecular Biology: Open Access
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Molecular Biology: Open Access
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Metabolomics:Open Access
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Metabolomics:Open Access
Accepted Abstracts: Metabolomics:Open Access
Accepted Abstracts: Metabolomics:Open Access
Journal of Genetics and DNA Research received 3 citations as per Google Scholar report
Spanish 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Japanese 
Portuguese 
Hindi 