Overview

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing determines whether you're infected with HIV, a virus that weakens your immune system and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Some HIV tests check for antibodies that your immune system produces in reaction to HIV infection. Other HIV tests look for evidence of the virus itself. Rapid tests can produce results within 20 minutes.

Researchers continue to improve the sensitivity of tests (how well they detect HIV infection) and how long the tests take to provide results. Guidelines for testing change as tests improve.