t - New York Civil Liberties Union

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145. HEV' PIA.GNOSTIC TESTS
Section 7
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When a pathogen enters the body, the immune system produces antibodies to fight and
destroy the pathogen. Although the immune system does produce antíbocies to fight HIV,
these antibodies are not effective in preventing HIV infection. Finding these an tibodies in the
blood indicate that a person is infected with HTV. The following tests are used to detect the
presence of HIV antibodies in the bloodstream:
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One ELISA is given. If the person tests positive, two moré tests are done, H, after
three tests, two or three are positive, then the Western Blot test is done to confirm
the results.
TEST
Western Blot Test
This is a more expensive test but is very specific in identifying HIV antibodies.
RESULTS
Positive
Result
The person has HIV antibodies in his or her bloodstream.
Negative Result
There are no HIV antibodies in the sample of blood. This does not mean that the
person is uninfected because it may take the body from two weeks to six months or
longer to develop HIV antibodies. It is best to be retested in six months.
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The following are tests that are done after a person is known to have HIV:
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T'YPE
OF TEST
Complete
Blood Count
A standard test that measures and analyzes the different types of cells that
make up the blood including:
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...,í-MhiteBiooâ Cells (WBC)·
Mea:5ures the number of white blood cens in a cubic millimeter of blood (about
one teaspoon). The normal count ranges from 4,000 to 11,000 per cubic millimeter
in an average healthy adult.
Red Blood Cells (RBe)
Measures the number of red blood cells in a cubic millimeter of blood, Normal
ranges for men are from 4.5-6.1, and for women are 4.0-5.3.
Platelets
These are a part of the blood that is necessary for clotting. Normal count is
between 150,000 and 440,000,