What tests are needed for AIDS and syphilis?

Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
Updated on September 20, 2024
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If a general person wants to test for HIV and syphilis, there is a quick and easy method, which is to do a blood test called the "pre-transfusion four tests." This specifically includes four components: HIV antibodies, syphilis antibodies, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Therefore, by going to the hospital for a blood draw and taking the pre-transfusion four tests, you can early screen for both HIV and syphilis. However, if it is the early stage of infection with these diseases, also known as the window period, it may result in a false negative. You mentioned that you might have HIV or syphilis, but the result could temporarily be negative. Therefore, to be certain, it is recommended to retest after 3-6 months.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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What department should I go to for AIDS testing?

AIDS is a severe immunodeficiency disease characterized by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus. Its main modes of transmission are sexual activity, blood, and mother-to-child transmission, with sexual transmission accounting for over 95%. Therefore, when we go to the hospital for AIDS testing, we generally need to visit the dermatology department or the department of venereology.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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How long does it take to know if you are infected with AIDS?

After being infected with the HIV virus, 50% to 70% of people will experience symptoms similar to a cold, such as fever, headache, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, occasional nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes, all occurring around half a month later. Of course, some people may not exhibit any symptoms at all. If symptoms do appear, they generally disappear within a month. At this time, it is necessary to conduct a screening test between the first and second month. If necessary, another screening test can be performed in the third month to determine whether there is an HIV infection.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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"AIDS negative" means what?

HIV negative means that the HIV antibody test is negative, indicating that the person is not infected with HIV. However, this test result is conditional; the test must be conducted after the window period of HIV, which is between the 4th to 8th weeks. Further tests may be necessary at 3 or 6 months if needed.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Will touching AIDS-infected blood lead to transmission?

If the skin is intact, generally, contact with the blood of an HIV-infected person will not transmit the virus. However, if the skin is damaged and comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-infected person, there is a possibility of transmission. Additionally, the mucous membranes of the body, such as in the eyes, inside the mouth, and various cavities, can potentially get infected with HIV if they come into contact with HIV-infected blood. If these mucous membranes are damaged, the risk of HIV infection significantly increases.

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Written by Xie Ming Feng
Dermatology
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Is late-stage AIDS painful?

In the late stages of AIDS, human immune function is severely deficient, with all tissues and organs of the body being compromised, accompanied by multiple and various opportunistic infections and the occurrence of malignant tumors. This leads to symptoms such as skin itching, muscle pain, fever, diarrhea, and weight loss. If the nervous system is affected, dementia, loss of discriminative ability, or motor dysfunction may occur. Therefore, the late stages are quite painful.