Rapid HIV Testing | Screening Price | HIV Clinic Singapore

If you suspect you have been exposed to HIV, you can get tested starting from 10 days after the point of contact with the virus. The HIV RNA/DNA PCR test is designed for early detection of the virus before antibodies have developed in the body. However, this method is expensive, time-consuming, and labour-intensive.

If you want to opt for more affordable options, other HIV tests can be performed from the 3rd week onwards. The other HIV tests work by detecting antibodies that the body forms in response to the virus. These antibodies take time to form, and can take up to 3 months to develop.

Due to the variable time it takes for sufficient antibodies to form in your body, some tests can show up with negative results if taken too early. For more accurate results, (re-)testing at the 3-month mark is recommended.

HIV and AIDS are caused by the same virus, but AIDS is a more advanced form of HIV. At the earliest stage of infection, patients with HIV usually show no symptoms at all. A person is said to have AIDS when their HIV infection progress to stages II to IV, which are the stages where a person’s lowered immunity causes recurrent infections in the body.

The progression from HIV to AIDS varies from person to person. It can take 10 to 15 years, depending on whether the patient is receiving treatment and the effectiveness of the treatment.

There is currently no cure for HIV. Although HIV is a virus that remains in the body for life, its progress and symptoms can be put under control via several treatment methods. This improves the quality of life for patients with HIV, and prolongs their lifespan. Antiretroviral therapy is available to suppress the virus and boost the patient’s immunity.

No, there is no evidence that HIV is spread through saliva or casual contact like hugging or shaking hands. Bites from insects like mosquitoes have also been shown not to spread HIV. Although HIV can be spread through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, anal fluids, and breast milk, it is not spread through other bodily matter like sweat, urine, tears, or faeces.

The key to managing HIV infection is to receive treatment as soon as possible. In the meantime before receiving treatment, a responsible thing to do is to abstain from sexual activities or other high-risk activities that will expose others to the infection.

A specialist can put you on a combination therapy called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), which is a combination of a few antiretroviral medications. This reduces the chances of the virus developing resistance to any of the medications, and drastically reduces the chances of AIDS developing.

Those on successful antiretroviral therapy will not be at risk of infecting other individuals. Hence, patients on the therapy can engage in sex with their partner once the doctor determines that the patient’s viral load is sufficiently suppressed.

There is no standardized pricing for an HIV test. The cost of an HIV test depends on the comprehensiveness of the screening conducted. If you are looking to obtain a result quickly, you can opt for the Rapid HIV Test, which ranges from $50 to $120. For those that prefer a standard lab test, you can expect the screening to cost between $30 to $600. All prices are exclusive of GST.

There is no risk of sexual transmission of HIV when a patient living with the virus has achieved an undetectable viral load and is able to maintain it for at least six months. You can achieve an undetectable viral load within one to six months of treatment if you take your prescribed antiretroviral therapy consistently as per your doctor’s instructions.

However, your viral load is only considered ‘durably undetectable’ when your test results are undetectable for at least six months after your first undetectable test result. So you are required to be on treatment for seven to twelve months to obtain a durably undetectable viral load.