How Will I Know if Someone is Infected?

Although HIV presents certain symptoms in the later stages, there is no way of establishing whether a person s infected by simply looking at them.

The only way to know your status is to test for HIV. The tests entail a finger prick test. If the result of this test is positive, it needs to be followed by more blood tests.

Only through a blood test and the testing of blood in a laboratory can a person’s status be determined. The test results will indicate whether an individual is HIV-positive or -negative. Undergoing an HIV test is an individual’s own choice. Nobody can be forced to submit to testing. 

According to the law, all HIV results are confidential and may only be disclosed to the person concerned. Information pertaining to an individual’s HIV-status cannot be made available without the individual’s consent.

There are different types of tests used for the detection of HIV or HIV antibodies. The most common tests depend on the presence and detect ability of the antibodies to the HI Virus as the principle is based on antigen-antibody reaction.