HIV Infection

Causes & Risk Factors

HIV is transmitted through specific bodily fluids under specific circumstances:

•  Unprotected sexual contact with an HIV-positive person.

•  Sharing needles or other injection equipment.

•  Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, without appropriate prevention measures.

•  Exposure to infected blood, including through unsafe medical procedures or occupational exposure.

•  Multiple sexual partners or a partner with unknown HIV status increases cumulative exposure risk.

Symptoms & When to Test

HIV infection can present with a brief flu-like illness shortly after infection, followed by a prolonged period with few or no symptoms.

•  Acute HIV infection — fever, sore throat, rash, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, occurring within 2–4 weeks of exposure in many cases

•  Often followed by a long asymptomatic period, sometimes lasting years, even as the virus continues to affect the immune system

•  Advanced untreated infection may eventually present with recurrent infections or unusual illnesses as immune function declines

When Should You Consider Testing?

Testing is appropriate for anyone with known or possible exposure (regardless of symptoms), symptoms suggestive of acute HIV infection, as part of routine health screening, during pregnancy, or as part of regular testing for individuals at ongoing risk.

Why Tests Are Combined

HIV antigen/antibody combination testing is used as the initial screening test because it can detect infection earlier than antibody-only tests, but a reactive screening result requires confirmation through an established testing algorithm before a diagnosis is given, since false-positive screening results can occur.

In selected situations — such as very recent possible exposure, where the antibody response has not yet developed — HIV-1 RNA molecular testing may be used, since it can detect the virus earlier than antibody-based methods, closing the "window period" gap.

Once HIV infection is confirmed, viral load and CD4 count serve distinct ongoing monitoring purposes: viral load measures how much virus is present (and is used to assess treatment effectiveness), while CD4 count reflects the current state of immune function.

Tests Available at NPL

Most infectious-disease molecular tests and microbiological investigations do not require fasting. However, some blood tests ordered at the same time may have specific preparation requirements. Please follow the instructions provided by your doctor or NPL.

Home Sample Collection

NPL offers convenient home sample collection for HIV Infection blood tests, so you don't need to visit a lab in person.

→ Book your test online, via the NPL app, or by calling +977 1 5970147 and select a convenient time slot for home sample collection.

→ A certified and experienced NPL phlebotomist visits your home at the scheduled time, following strict hygiene and safety protocols.

→ Your sample is transported under controlled, monitored conditions to NPL's NABL accredited under ISO 15189:2022 laboratory for processing.

→ Your digital report is delivered securely to your phone or email, along with access to download and share it as needed.

When to See a Doctor

•  Known or possible HIV exposure — discuss testing and, where relevant, post-exposure prevention promptly

•  Symptoms suggestive of acute HIV infection following possible exposure

•  Positive or reactive screening result requiring confirmatory testing and counselling

•  Known HIV infection due for routine viral load or CD4 monitoring

•  Pregnancy without known HIV status — routine screening is recommended