Testing for HIV can help a person get the right treatment at the right time. The test may be reactive or non-reactive based on the person’s health and exposure to HIV.
A Reactive HIV test means that your body has the symptoms of HIV and you are HIV positive. It shows the presence of active HIV antigens or antibodies in the person’s blood.
If you are tested for HIV infection, it will be shown in the result that the test is non-reactive. This means your body is fit and there are no symptoms of HIV in your body. This further reflects that there are no active HIV antigens or antibodies in the person’s blood.
What is HIV and What is its Main Cause?
HIV is a disease that basically spreads from one person to another when they make physical contact with each other or when they interact physically or sexually. In other words, we can say that HIV is transmitted from one person to another via the means of a physical relationship.
Studies say that most of the time, you get HIV infection when you make physical contact with people who are already infected with HIV. It does not spread from air or water, but instead, it spreads from one person’s body to another person’s body when they have a physical relationship.
Ways That Can Affect Your Body By HIV Infection
You can be affected by the infection of HIV in any of the following ways:
- Came in contact with an HIV-infected person via the means of coupling
- Using common syringes or any kind of needle with an infected person
- Using or sharing liquor, or any other drug
How to prevent yourself from getting HIV after a non-reactive test?
It may be possible that you get a non-reactive HIV test, but still, there are chances that after the test you might get infected at some future point in time. So, to protect yourself from infection, you must take care of these points:
- Abstain From Doing
Simply put, it means not having any physical relationships with anyone or sharing a syringe, liquor, or drug with anyone. It also includes avoiding using any equipment that is used by an HIV-positive person.
- PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
It simply means taking a PrEP pill daily to prevent HIV. PrEP is a pill that is said to be the most effective pill for preventing HIV infection. But, before taking it, you should consult your doctor to see if it is right for you or not, because it is not necessary that this pill suits everyone.
- PEP or Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
It is a medication that protects you against HIV infection if you have recently had exposure to it. It is assumed that you should start it within 2 hours of getting exposure to HIV. Starting it as soon as possible gives the best protection. If you are unable to do it within 2 hours, then try to start it and complete it within 72 hours. After 72 hours, it will not be effective in any way. Anytime you suspect HIV exposure, you should visit the emergency room right away and request PEP.
- Be Cautious While Using a Syringe
If you are using any kind of syringe, then dispose of it after use. Do not use a syringe twice. Do not use any syringe used by another person. Moreover, buy syringes only from medical shops and hospitals. Do not buy them from the street or from any other local shop.