Questions about HIV blood test

[pat_fd]

I would like to ask a couple of questions about the blood tests and what the results mean.
Please excuse my ignorance to this subject since some of the questions could sound a little naive.

with the modern medications if an HIV+ person responds to the treatment successfully the viral load could become undetectable and the CD4s increase to normal levels, but still he/she can pass HIV to others.
then how can be found that this person is still an HIV+.
Is there any other test?

CD4s should be between 500-1200 cells/mm3, older HIV- people or HIV- people with a compromised (for some reason) immune system have sometimes less and that's might be the reason they are more susceptible to various diseases, is it correct?

thanks

[Jeff G]

I would like to ask a couple of questions about the blood tests and what the results mean.
Please excuse my ignorance to this subject since some of the questions could sound a little naive.

with the modern medications if an HIV+ person responds to the treatment successfully the viral load could become undetectable and the CD4s increase to normal levels, but still he/she can pass HIV to others.
then how can be found that this person is still an HIV+.
Is there any other test?

CD4s should be between 500-1200 cells/mm3, older HIV- people or HIV- people with a compromised (for some reason) immune system have sometimes less and that's might be the reason they are more susceptible to various diseases, is it correct?

thanks

Pat ... are you HIV positive ? . You may want to start with an introduction so we can get to know you a little better .   

[pat_fd]

Pat ... are you HIV positive ? . You may want to start with an introduction so we can get to know you a little better . 

no I am not HIV+,
the reason I am here is to learn a few things about HIV because I volunteer in various social groups that help persons in need and this kind of knowledge will make my work more efficient and safe.

edit
I forgot to say that I have lost a distant relative of aids back in the beginning of the 90s,

[Jeff G]

no I am not HIV+,
the reason I am here is to learn a few things about HIV because I volunteer in various social groups that help persons in need and this kind of knowledge will make my work more efficient and safe.

edit
I forgot to say that I have lost a distant relative of aids back in the beginning of the 90s,

I see , we have the lessons section at the top of the page , that will be a very good place for to start . We are a support group for people living with HIV , we also have the Am I infected Forum that we offer as prevention and a way to educate and fight stigma

As a person who is not living with HIV you are only allowed to post in the Someone I care about forum and the Off Topic forum , off topic ins't a place to talk about HIV .

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV you can ask 3 free questions in the AM I infected forum or buy a subscription .

Please understand that there is a wealth of information for you here but we don't encourage HIV negative people to come in and start threads to quiz us about HIV , so please feel free to use the search feature and the lessons section , Thanks for your understanding .

[pat_fd]

thank you Jeff,

[Ann]

Pat,

As you're obviously worried you're going to become infected through someone who attends one of the social groups you volunteer for, I'm moving this thread into the Am I Infected? forum.

The only way you're going to become infected is if you have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with anyone or share drug injecting equipment with anyone (not just the people at these groups).

with the modern medications if an HIV+ person responds to the treatment successfully the viral load could become undetectable and the CD4s increase to normal levels, but still he/she can pass HIV to others.
then how can be found that this person is still an HIV+.
Is there any other test?

Even people on meds with an undetectable viral load will still test hiv antibody positive. An undetectable viral load does not mean hiv negative.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Please stop posting in forums where you are not permitted to post. If you persist, you will be permanently banned. Please consider yourself warned.

Ann