What is the window period for HIV testing? | aidsmap
The median window period is 18 days (interquartile range 13 to 24 days). This indicates that half of all infections would be detected between 13 and 24 days after exposure. 99% of HIV-infected individuals would be detectable within 44 days of exposure. UK guidelines state that 45 days is the window period for fourth-generation laboratory tests.
Female-to-female sexual transmission of HIV - Aidsmap
Key points. The risk of female-to-female sexual transmission is extremely rare, with only a handful of reported cases. HIV-positive women who identify as lesbian may have acquired HIV through injecting drug use or sex with men. Transmission is possible through sharing of sex toys and exposure to blood during sex.
How accurate are rapid, point-of-care tests for HIV? - Aidsmap
In contrast, the recommended laboratory tests also detect p24 antigen, a protein contained in HIV's viral core that can be detected sooner than antibodies. Most rapid tests, with the exception of the Determine HIV Early Detect and Determine HIV-1/2 cannot detect p24 antigen. The accuracy of point-of-care tests is not always equal to those of laboratory tests, especially in relation to recent ...
On-demand PrEP is highly effective, but some may find it confusing
Jul 8, 2020 · On-demand PrEP is also known as event-based PrEP or PrEP 2-1-1. It involves taking two tablets 2 to 24 hours before engaging in sex, taking a single tablet 24 hours after the first two, and another tablet 24 hours after that. On-demand PrEP using daily Truvada was shown to be highly effective for gay and bisexual men in the French IPERGAY study.
Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) Emtricitabine 200mg capsule 1 Common: Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, indigestion, headache, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, raised liver enzyme, amylase or creatine kinase levels, raised blood sugar and triglyceride levels, rash, itching, skin darkening, insomnia, abnormal dreams
CD4 cell counts - Aidsmap
CD4 cells are sometimes also called T-cells, T-lymphocytes, or helper cells. Your CD4 cell count is the number of blood cells in a cubic millimetre of blood (a very small blood sample). It is not a count of all the CD4 cells in your body. A higher number indicates a stronger immune system. The CD4 cell count of a person who does not have HIV ...
Biktarvy - Aidsmap
Biktarvy is a medication used to treat HIV. It is a combination of three separate antiretroviral drugs in one pill, taken once a day. It combines 50mg of bictegravir, 200mg of emtricitabine and 25mg of tenofovir alafenamide in a purplish-brown tablet with ‘GSI’ on one side and ‘9883’ on the other side of the tablet.
How likely is mother-to-child transmission of HIV? - Aidsmap
Transmission from pregnant women with diagnosed HIV has fallen to 0.3% and 0.2% in the UK and France respectively. In 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa surveyed in 2019, the transmission rate varied between 2 and 25%. The countries with the best figures were Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa and Namibia (all below 5%).
HIV-1 and HIV-2 - Aidsmap
HIV-1 and HIV-2. There are two major types of the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV-1, which was discovered first, is the most widespread type worldwide. HIV-2 is more than 55% genetically different from HIV-1. HIV-2 is most common in western Africa and is becoming more common in India, although numbers there are still relatively small.
Are HIV tests accurate in people taking HIV treatment, PrEP
A protein substance (immunoglobulin) produced by the immune system in response to a foreign organism. Many diagnostic tests for HIV detect the presence of antibodies to HIV in blood. post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) A month-long course of antiretroviral medicines taken after exposure or possible exposure to HIV, to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.