Aids/HIV information, Symptoms, treatment

The HIV test  (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a blood test that detects the presence of antibodies to HIV. This test is called Elisa (enzyme immunosorbent assay absorbent) and is not specific to this infection, therefore, must be confirmed with another test called Western Blot, if give the Elisa with positive outcome. Instead of Elisa, the patient can also be done proof Meier (enzyme method of immuno analysis).

The human body normally produces antibodies to fight disease. In the case of HIV antibodies show only that the person is infected with the virus. Being infected means the virus is present in the body and that of not taking appropriate precautions, can infect other people, but feels well and has no symptoms at all. Being infected, is not the same as having AIDS.

Results

A positive result means that they are HIV antibodies in their blood. This means that HIV carrier is not having AIDS. It is important to know that can infect another person if it maintains unprotected sex (without condoms) or by direct contact with blood with blood. These people should always protect themselves in their sex to not be at risk of re-infection, hence, must prevent HIV re-enter his body, because that would increase the possibility of contracting AIDS.

If the result is negative, meaning that there were no antibodies to HIV in the blood. To be sure of the outcome of the analysis must wait up to 6 months after the risk.

How is it done?

Through a blood test, with an 8-hour prior fasting, will know the outcome of the test. The patient must be over 18 years, otherwise, must be approved by a higher. If not for a routine inspection, it is recommended testing three months after the risk.

The results are available after a week to 15 days of the test done.

How much does it cost?

The test is performed for free at all municipal hospitals.

When is it appropriate to conduct the test?

Discovery is systematic and compulsory from giving blood, semen, organ and tissue to prevent virus transmission to the receiver.

It is also recommended for all health professional who has suffered an accident at risk of potential contamination, especially in case of injuries material stained with blood.

People exposed to infection (multiple partners), or just after unprotected intercourse (heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual), addicted to intravenous drug and people from countries where the infection rate is high should be performed test.

Pregnant women should also perform the test as a precaution.

How much time must elapse after infecting a contact for the test is positive?

The antibodies appear after a certain period of 3 to 12 weeks on average.

The test for detecting antibodies is therefore negative at the beginning of the infection despite the fact that the person is carrying the virus. The positivización test corresponds to the emergence of antibodies, that is what is known as seroconversion.

Confidentiality

An analysis of AIDS can be done only with the consent of the person who performs it, is confidential.

 ·         Liver integrity tests (formerly known as “liver function tests”): Your liver is part of your digestive system, which includes your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth and stomach), your stomach, and your small and large intestines (guts). Blood or urine (pee) tests that measure how well your liver is working are called liver integrity tests. These tests can show if there is any damage to, or stress on, your liver. Since your liver releases many different chemicals into your bloodstream, a separate blood test is done for each.

If you look at your blood test request form you will probably see that your doctor regularly orders tests of these liver enzymes:

•  
  • aspartate aminotransferase (AST, also known as SGOT)
  • alanine aminotransferase (ALT, also known as SGPT)
  • lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
  • gamma-glutomyltransferase (GGT)

If the levels of these four enzymes are higher than your normal range, there may be damage to the cells of your liver. This may be caused by excessive use of alcohol, by prescription or street drugs, or by infections like hepatitis B.

Your blood test form may also include a test of a fifth liver enzyme, alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos). If the level of this enzyme is above your normal range then there might be damage to the parts of your liver called bile ducts. In some people, higher-than-normal levels of alkaline phosphatase may be seen before symptoms of MAC infection develop.

You may have liver integrity tests done if you’re having a hard time digesting food, if your skin is becoming yellow (this is called jaundice), or if your doctor thinks you may have one of the hepatitis viruses, which infect and can damage your liver. Several drugs you may be taking can also damage your liver, so your doctor may do these tests regularly.

 ·         Renal (kidney) function tests: Your kidneys (along with your bladder) are part of the system that removes waste from your body. They also help recycle nutrients. Any test that measures how well your kidneys are working is called a renal function test. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine tests are done using a blood sample. Other renal function tests measure how much fluid your kidneys release as waste, by collecting and measuring how much you urinate (pee) in 24 hours. Urine can be analyzed to measure which chemicals or salts your kidneys are releasing. Too much or too little of these chemicals can be a sign of kidney damage. Several drugs can damage your kidneys, so your doctor may do these tests regularly.

Your blood can also be tested for: 

Amylase, an enzyme produced by your pancreas. Amylase levels may be increased by (pancreatitis) inflammation of the pancreas or by certain types of drugs that affect your pancreas. If you use ddI, ddC, or pentamidine, your doctor will probably monitor amylase levels every month.

Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), an enzyme usually found in muscles. When your muscle tissue is damaged or destroyed, the CPK enzyme leaks out into your blood. This test can show muscle damage due to wasting or drug side effects.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, Sed Rate), a test that measures how long it takes red blood cells (erythrocytes) from a sample of your blood to settle at the bottom of a test tube. A high ESR can indicate inflammation (swelling or other signs of infection). This test can’t identify a specific infection. However, you can monitor this test in the long term and, if there are any major changes, you should be looking for a possible infection.

Blood gases: Testing of blood gases is done only in a hospital, when you’re having extreme difficulty breathing. A sample of blood is removed from an artery in your wrist or groin (crotch), and the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and bicarbonate are measured. The results of this test can help doctors measure how much oxygen to give you. Not enough oxygen can damage internal organs, and too much can destroy your lungs.

  Electrolytes: If you look at your blood test request form, you will probably see that your doctor regularly orders tests of sodium, potassium, and calcium. These salts are called electrolytes and they must be balanced properly. If you have bad diarrhea or vomiting, you can lose electrolytes because you’re not keeping enough food or water in your body. If your electrolytes get too low, you may feel weak, dizzy, or confused, and you can get very ill.

Absolute T4 cell count: Also called the “absolute CD4+ count.” This number is calculated from the results of three different blood tests. The absolute T4 count is the most common surrogate marker (a lab measurement that can show indirectly the effect of a treatment on a disease) used for people with HIV.

T4 cells are the white blood cells most likely to decrease in people with HIV. These cells play an important role in controlling infections. T4 cells die about 24 to 36 hours after being infected with HIV. Your body is able to replace these cells and keep HIV in check for years. However, at some point your immune system will start to lose ground. Figuring out the number of T4 cells in a sample of blood can give you an idea of how your immune system is doing. Knowing your T4 count can help you decide when to take action and what to do.

The normal range of T4 counts can vary from one lab to another, depending on which procedures are used. For example, some labs may use 450-1150 cells per cubic millimetre as the normal range for adults; others may use 550-1250. Any single count of T4 cells is not a sure sign of how your immune system is doing. Two T4 cell counts done on samples of blood drawn from the same person twelve hours apart can be very different from each other. If one T4 cell count is way out of line with the pattern shown in the last several tests, it may be a good idea to get another test done. Your T4 cell count shows only one part of how your immune system is functioning. Always consider it as part of a bigger picture. Look for trends over time, rather than focusing on a specific result.

T4 (or CD4+) percentage: This measures the percentage of T4 cells compared to the total number of lymphocytes in your blood. T4 cells usually make up between 31 and 49 per cent (about one-third to one-half) of the total number of your lymphocytes. As the number of your T4 cells drops, it makes up less and less of the total number of lymphocytes. This test is used together with your absolute T4 cell count to get a more complete picture of your immune system.

Absolute T8 count: Also called the “absolute CD8+ count.” This number is calculated from the results of three different blood tests. The absolute T8 count is another sign of whether people have HIV. People with HIV often have T8 counts above the normal range.

As with T4 counts, the normal range of T8 counts can vary from lab to lab, depending on which procedures are used.

T8 (or CD8+) percentage This measures the percentage of T8 cells compared to the total number of lymphocytes in your blood.

 p24 antigen test: The p24 antigen is one of the proteins that HIV makes. When HIV multiplies inside a cell, p24 antigen is released into your bloodstream. This test measures how much p24 antigen you have in your blood. High levels of p24 antigen suggest that HIV is multiplying rapidly. Many people with HIV/AIDS never test positive for p24 antigen, so this test is not very useful on its own

Your blood contains different kinds of cells in a clear fluid called plasma. Blood carries nutrients (from your digestive system) and hormones (from your glands) to cells throughout your body. It also carries waste to your excretory system (the system that gets rid of what your body doesn’t need). And blood can carry germs all through your body when you get an infection.

Testing your blood to see how many of each kind of cell you have can show whether there are any problems. Some drugs you may be taking can affect these tests. Your doctor may suggest you stop using a certain drug to see if it is the cause. Your blood cells are produced in your bone marrow. Several drug treatments used for HIV infection can affect bone marrow, which in turn can affect the levels of many of these cells.

Complete blood count (CBC): This is made up of several different tests. These are the most common blood tests, and they’re done quite often. Your CBC can give you and your doctor a general sense of your overall health. Any count that is outside your normal range can suggest an infection or damage to your body, which tells your doctor to go on to do more specific tests. Your CBC studies three different kinds of cells: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

White blood cell (WBC) count: White blood cells (also called leukocytes are your immune system cells. This test measures the total number of white blood cells found in a sample of your blood. A low white blood cell count is called leukopenia. AZT, ganciclovir, and other medications can cause a drop in the number of your white blood cells. If you take these drugs, your doctor will probably monitor your WBC count every month.

Differential: This test breaks down the WBC into different types of white blood cells and tells you what percentage of them are lymphocytes, macrophages , or other kinds of cells. Increases or decreases in the numbers of these cells can show different types of problems. You can discuss these issues with your doctor.

Red blood cell (or RBC) count: Red blood cells give blood its red colour, which comes from iron. They carry oxygen from your lungs to all the other cells in your body. They also carry carbon dioxide from your tissues to your lungs, where it’s breathed out. This count tells you how many red blood cells there are in a certain amount of blood.

Hemoglobin (Hgb): Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen in your lungs and carries it to tissues all through your body, where it’s released. Even if you have enough red blood cells, you may not have enough hemoglobin.

 If you don’t have enough red blood cells or enough hemoglobin, your body can’t get enough oxygen. This results in a condition called anemia, which can leave you feeling really tired and breathless and looking pale.

Hematocrit: Your blood is made up of plasma and red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (see below). The hematocrit measures the percentage of your blood that is made up of all these cells except the plasma.

 Platelet count: Platelets (also called thrombocytes) are tiny, colourless blood cells that help your blood clot. When the number of platelets in your blood is low, you can bruise easily, and can bleed for a long time when cut or injured. A platelet count below normal range is called thrombocytopenia, which can cause you to bleed for a long time when injured.