Taking the test for HIV is a positive step in claiming responsibility for your sexual health. People take the HIV test for several reasons. Some people test because they know they were at risk and want to be sure about their HIV status.
Testing is done through analysis of a blood sample or cells collected from inside the mouth.
Urine tests will soon be available. When HIV infection occurs, the body develops antibodies to the virus. The western blot detects the individual proteins that make up the virus. Positive tests that are verified this way have an accuracy rate of nearly 100 percent. Thus, even if you feel healthy, you can pass HIV on to other people through anal, oral or vaginal sex or through needle sharing.