HIV Serology

Overview

HIV serology is a type of blood test that looks for signs your body has responded to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). “Serology” simply means looking at what’s in your blood serum - in this case, the antibodies your immune system produces to fight HIV and sometimes also parts of the virus itself (known as antigens). If your test finds these, it means you’ve been infected with the virus. HIV damages the immune system by attacking a type of white blood cell that helps defend your body against infections. Without treatment, HIV can progress to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). However, today’s treatments mean people with HIV can live long, healthy lives. Serology testing is the first and most common way to detect HIV, helping people understand their status and get treatment early.

Testing Levels:

• High ( ) - A positive or reactive result means that HIV antibodies or antigens have been found, which indicates infection with HIV. This doesn’t mean you have AIDS, but it does mean the virus is in your body and needs treatment. A second, confirmatory test is always done to be certain. Starting treatment as soon as possible helps protect your immune system and prevent you from passing the virus to others.
  
  
• Mid - A negative or non-reactive result usually means there’s no HIV in the body. However, if testing took place shortly after possible exposure, antibodies and antigens might not yet be present. This is why retesting after the window period (typically 2–6 weeks) is sometimes advised.
  
  A clearly negative result indicates no HIV has been found. If the test was done after the window period, this is considered reliable. If there’s a chance of recent exposure, a second test after 3 months provides full reassurance.
  
  
• Low ( ) - A clearly negative result indicates no HIV has been found. If the test was done after the window period, this is considered reliable. If there’s a chance of recent exposure, a second test after 3 months provides full reassurance.

Why We Test HIV Serology

Knowing your HIV status is important for both personal health and public safety. Early diagnosis allows for prompt treatment, which protects your immune system and makes it nearly impossible to pass HIV on to others. Testing is especially important if you’ve had unprotected sex, shared needles, are pregnant, or belong to a group at higher risk. It’s also recommended as part of routine health screening. With modern treatments, HIV is manageable - but early detection is the key.

What Affects It

The biggest factor is time since exposure - it can take several weeks for the body to produce enough antibodies or antigens to be detected. This is called the window period, during which a test might give a false negative. Immunosuppressive medications, recent vaccinations, or advanced HIV can also affect test results. Rarely, other infections or autoimmune conditions can cause false positives.

How to Improve

If the test is positive, it’s essential to begin HIV treatment (called antiretroviral therapy) as soon as possible. This keeps the virus under control and your immune system strong. If the result is borderline, follow-up testing confirms the result. For a negative test, prevention methods such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), using condoms, and avoiding needle sharing help reduce your risk. Regular testing ensures early detection, especially if you have ongoing risk. Staying informed, protected, and connected to care is the best way to safeguard your health.

Common Name: HIV