Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS

The Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS refers to the methods and procedures used to detect the presence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Pronunciation

HIV: /ˌeɪtʃ aɪ ˈviː/
AIDS: /ˈeɪdz/

Etymology

The term "HIV" is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which describes the virus that causes the disease. "AIDS" stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, which is the advanced stage of the HIV infection.

Related Terms

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): A treatment for HIV that helps to slow the progression of the disease.
CD4 Cells: A type of white blood cell that HIV targets and destroys.
Viral Load: The amount of HIV in the blood.
Opportunistic Infections: Infections that occur more frequently and are more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems, including people with HIV.

Process

The diagnosis of HIV/AIDS typically involves two steps: an initial screening and a confirmatory test. The initial screening is usually a blood or saliva test that looks for antibodies to HIV. If this test is positive, a confirmatory test is performed to ensure the accuracy of the initial test. This may be a different type of antibody test, a Nucleic Acid Test (NAT), or an Antigen/Antibody Test.

Stages

Once a person is diagnosed with HIV, the disease can progress through three stages: acute HIV infection, chronic HIV infection, and AIDS. The progression from HIV to AIDS is determined by the number of CD4 Cells in the blood, the presence of certain Opportunistic Infections, and other factors.

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Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS