What is an HIV Test and When Is It Prescribed?
HIV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It affects a significant part of the world’s population and is among the major health concerns. When left untreated for a longer period, it may lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), which is the most advanced stage. This infection spreads when a healthy person comes into direct contact with the bodily fluids (blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk) of an infected person. Apart from this, it can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. Early detection is the best way to control HIV infection and prevent its progression to AIDS. Booking an HIV test in a timely manner can help manage the symptoms in the initial stages. What is an HIV test? It is a blood test that detects the presence of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in an individual’s blood. The human immunodeficiency virus attacks the cells of...