HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system and lowers the body’s natural defence against illness and disease.
HIV is a lifelong condition. It can be managed with effective treatment, but right now there isn't a cure.
This is known as Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U).
With today's medical advancements, HIV+ individuals can:
There is a risk of HIV being transmitted only when one of the following fluids enters the bloodstream of somebody else. This can be through broken skin (e.g. injecting drugs, cuts or sores) or a mucous membrane (in the rectum, vagina, and penis):
*There is no risk of HIV from receiving any kind of oral sex. There is almost no risk from fellatio (giving head) if your partner doesn't cum in your mouth or from performing cunnilingus (eating someone out). HIV transmission could be a risk if your partner cums in your mouth and you have cuts or sores there.
*There is no evidence that HIV transmission occurs these ways, but in theory it is possible if broken skin or a mucous membrane makes contact with infectious bodily fluids.
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GET STARTEDNot everyone that has HIV will show symptoms. The only way to be sure of one’s HIV status is by testing. When detected, HIV can be treated in all of its stages.
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This is when the body will recognize the new infection, as the virus has had time to multiply. Due to the body’s fight against the new HIV infection, its immune system can cause the symptoms listed below. However, it is also common to have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms:
Since these symptoms usually happen before HIV is detected, they are hard to prevent.
The acute HIV stage is also when the body begins producing antibodies to recognize HIV.
For most people, an HIV test will turn positive just after this period. This testing is possible because there will now be enough of the virus and subsequent antibodies to detect the presence of HIV.
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, you can start HIV treatment at any point after diagnosis and international guidelines support starting treatment as soon as possible.
Chronic HIV is often referred to as the asymptomatic stage. During this stage, many people with HIV do not have any symptoms. This asymptomatic period can range from just a few years to over 20 years.
However, as time passes and HIV slowly compromises the immune system, some symptoms listed below can start to develop.
Symptoms:
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, treatment can resolve symptoms experienced in the chronic HIV stage. All people living with HIV must maintain this treatment for the rest of their life for it to keep working.
While HIV is a virus, AIDS is a syndrome. This means AIDS is a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms that consistently occur together.
A person who is living with HIV is classified as having AIDS when one of the following conditions is met:
1. Their T-cell count (a kind of white blood cell) drops below 200 per cubic millimetre of blood.
2. They have an opportunistic infection or a type of cancer that’s rare for HIV-negative people.
Symptoms:
This list isn’t exhaustive as AIDS can include a number of opportunistic infections.
Can it be treated at this stage?
AIDS can be reversed, meaning the diagnosis is removed, with effective treatment of HIV and treatment of the opportunistic infection or illness. This possibility of reversal is because AIDS is a syndrome, not the infection itself.
If you start on HIV medications and follow the advice of your doctor, it is possible for your health to improve.
This is when the body will recognize the new infection, as the virus has had time to multiply. Due to the body’s fight against the new HIV infection, its immune system can cause the symptoms listed below. However, it is also common to have no symptoms at all.
Symptoms:
Since these symptoms usually happen before HIV is detected, they are hard to prevent.
The acute HIV stage is also when the body begins producing antibodies to recognize HIV.
For most people, an HIV test will turn positive just after this period. This testing is possible because there will now be enough of the virus and subsequent antibodies to detect the presence of HIV.
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, you can start HIV treatment at any point after diagnosis and international guidelines support starting treatment as soon as possible.
Chronic HIV is often referred to as the asymptomatic stage. During this stage, many people with HIV do not have any symptoms. This asymptomatic period can range from just a few years to over 20 years.
However, as time passes and HIV slowly compromises the immune system, some symptoms listed below can start to develop.
Symptoms:
Can it be treated at this stage?
Yes, treatment can resolve symptoms experienced in the chronic HIV stage. All people living with HIV must maintain this treatment for the rest of their life for it to keep working.
While HIV is a virus, AIDS is a syndrome. This means AIDS is a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms that consistently occur together.
A person who is living with HIV is classified as having AIDS when one of the following conditions is met:
Symptoms:
This list isn’t exhaustive as AIDS can include a number of opportunistic infections.
Can it be treated at this stage?
AIDS can be reversed, meaning the diagnosis is removed, with effective treatment of HIV and treatment of the opportunistic infection or illness. This possibility of reversal is because AIDS is a syndrome, not the infection itself.
If you start on HIV medications and follow the advice of your doctor, it is possible for your health to improve.
When to get tested
It can take anywhere between 2 weeks and 3 months after exposure for HIV to show up through testing. This time frame is known as the HIV window period. The time varies based on the person and the type of test used.
Regardless of where you access it, HIV testing should be provided free of charge.
Types of tests
The type of HIV test can vary with three main characteristics:
1. Timeliness: How quickly you can receive a result.
2. Accuracy: How reliable the result is.
3. Accessibility: How easy it is to get the test performed.
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Laboratory testing is the most common type of testing method for HIV. During this test, blood is drawn from the patient’s vein and sent to a laboratory for review.
All labs in Canada use a 4th-generation test to screen blood samples.
It can take up to 1-2 weeks to receive the results from a laboratory HIV test.
Accuracy after initial HIV exposure:
- 50% by 18 days after exposure
- 99% by 44 days after exposure
Accessibility:
Laboratory testing may be challenging as it must be ordered by a prescribing healthcare provider and it can be difficult to find inclusive providers in more remote locations. It is generally recommended to find the appropriate healthcare provider at STI clinics, a family doctor's office, or a walk-in clinic.
Please refer to the clinic list on this page for potential clinic options.
Rapid HIV testing requires a drop of blood from a finger prick to perform the test. Similar to a laboratory test, point-of-care rapid tests are performed by a healthcare provider.
There is currently only one Rapid HIV test approved for use in Canada: The INSTI HIV-1/HIV-2 Antibody Test.
Results can be provided within minutes.
Accuracy after initial HIV exposure:
- 50% by 22 days after exposure
- 99% by 84 days after exposure
Accessibility:
Rapid tests (point-of-care) are harder to come by, and can sometimes be accessed through specialized STI clinics and other LGBTQ2S+ organizations.
Please refer to the clinic list on this page for potential clinic options.
Rapid HIV testing requires a drop of blood from a finger prick to perform the test. Unlike laboratory tests and point-of-care rapid tests, self-tests are performed by the patient themselves.
There is only one Rapid HIV test approved for use in Canada: The INSTI HIV Self Test.
Results can be provided within minutes.
Accuracy after initial HIV exposure:
- 50% by 22 days after exposure
- 99% by 84 days after exposure
Accessibility:
There are two ways to get HIV rapid self-tests in Canada.
You can order them online from the test manufacturer, BioLytical - these cost $34.95 for one or $54.95 for a pack of two.
Alternatively, you can get up to three free tests from I’m Ready to Know. This is a method run by Canadian researchers who are studying HIV self-testing. You’ll need to sign up for their study to receive the kits - visit their website or download their app to learn more.
Find a clinic near you
Looking to get tested for HIV or other STIs? Check out our resources on clinics for the following cities:
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