HIV testing tells you if you are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which causes AIDS. These tests look for "antibodies" to HIV. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to fight a specific germ.

Other "HIV" tests are used when people already know that they are infected with HIV. These measure how quickly the virus is multiplying (a viral load test) or the health of your immune system.

You can arrange for HIV testing at any government medical college hospital or district headquarter hospital for a cost of Rs 10/-. Test results are usually available within two weeks.
The most common HIV test is a blood test. A positive result on any HIV test should be confirmed with a second test.

A positive test result means that you have HIV antibodies, and are infected with HIV. You will get your test result from a counselor who should tell you what to expect, and where to get health services and emotional support.
Testing positive does not mean that you have AIDS. Many people who test positive stay healthy for several years, even if they don't start taking medication right away.
If you test negative and you have not been exposed to HIV for at least three months, you are not infected with HIV. Continue to protect yourself from HIV infection.

Antibody test results for HIV are accurate more than 99.5% of the time. Before you get the results, the test has usually been done two or more times. The first test is called an "EIA" or "ELISA" test. Before a positive ELISA test result is reported, it is confirmed by another test called a "Western Blot."
Two special cases can give false results:
Children born to HIV-positive mothers may have false positive test results for several months because mothers pass infection-fighting antibodies to their newborn children. Even if the children are not infected, they have HIV antibodies and will test positive. Other tests, such as a viral load test, must be used.
As mentioned above, people who were recently infected may test negative if they get tested too soon after being infected with HIV.

HIV testing generally looks for HIV antibodies in the blood, or saliva or urine. The immune system produces these antibodies to fight HIV, but it can take up to three months for them to show up. During this "window period" you will not test positive for HIV even if you are infected. Normal HIV tests don't work for newborn children of HIV-infected mothers.

A positive test result does not mean that you have AIDS. If you test positive, you should learn more about HIV and decide how to take care of your health.