HIV 1 & 2 Antibody Test

This test screens for antibodies your immune system produces in response to infection with HIV-1 or HIV-2, the two types of Human Immunodeficiency Virus that cause AIDS if left untreated.

Modern HIV tests are highly accurate and are typically performed as part of routine health screening, before surgery, during pregnancy, or after a potential exposure, reflecting how central early detection has become to effective, long-term HIV management.

There's a 'window period' after initial exposure — typically a few weeks — during which the virus may be present but antibody levels haven't yet risen high enough to be reliably detected, which is why testing timing and, sometimes, repeat testing matter.

With effective modern treatment, people diagnosed with HIV early can now expect to live long, healthy lives, which makes routine, stigma-free screening an important part of preventive healthcare rather than something to be feared.