The HIV Test

There is only one reliable way to find out your HIV status and that is to take the HIV test. The most common test is an antibody test called ELISA. A positive result means you have antibodies for HIV and you are infected with the virus.

• Common myth: "The HIV test can't be trusted."
• Truth: The HIV antibody test is one of the most reliable medical tests. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is more than 99% accurate. In addition, all positive results are confirmed with another test (called the Western Blot) to insure no mistakes are made.