Sexual Health | Pathology | Diagnosing HIV

Diagnosing HIV
Session overview
Description
This session explains how HIV should be diagnosed, including which diagnostic tests are available and the timescale between HIV exposure and tests becoming positive. It examines which samples should be taken and how they should be stored and transported. It explains how to interpret test results and their potential advantages or disadvantages.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe which tests are available and appropriate to detect HIV
• State how samples should be stored and transported
• Interpret the results of tests for HIV
• State the timescale between exposure to HIV infection and tests becoming positive

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete:

• Module 02/Interpreting Laboratory Tests (260-0193)
• Module 02/Antigen and Antibody Tests (260-0019)
• Module 11/HIV Testing (260-0126)