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Choosing a Test: Using Rapid HIV Tests
Five rapid HIV tests have been licensed for use in the United States:
- OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 and ADVANCE Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody Tests, manufactured by OraSure Technologies, Inc.
- UniGold Recombigen HIV Test, manufactured by Trinity Biotech
- Reveal G-2 Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test, manufactured by MedMira, Inc.
- Multispot HIV-1/HIV-2 Rapid Test, manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories
- Clearview HIV 1/2 Stat-Pack and COMPLETE 1/2, manufactured by Alere
These tests are all interpreted visually on the device itself and require no additional instruments. They differ in terms of what specimens they use and whether or not they have been designated by CLIA as appropriate for point-of-care use. This chart compares the characteristics of the FDA-approved rapid tests.
Test results from rapid HIV tests are interpreted the same as other HIV test results.
- A negative result from a single test is considered negative. However, if the person being tested has been exposed to HIV within the past three months, a repeat test at a later time is recommended because the rapid antibody test may not show a very recent infection.
- A positive (or reactive) result from a rapid HIV test is considered a preliminary positive and must be confirmed by a whole blood or serum-based Western blot or IFA before the diagnosis of HIV infection is established. If such confirmatory testing yields negative or indeterminate results, follow-up testing should be performed on a blood specimen collected four weeks after the initial reactive rapid HIV test result.
- When internal controls show that an HIV test is invalid, the patient should be offered the option of retesting with another rapid test or submitting a sample for lab-based standard testing and returning for the result or referral to outpatient testing facility.
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