Q: Are there different kinds of HIV tests?

A: There are currently three kinds of HIV test available, though all three may not be available at every testing site.

• Blood Antibody HIV Tests. Blood antibody tests are used to detect HIV antibodies in the bloodstream. The most common screening tests used today are the EIA (enzyme immunoassay) and the ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
• A second test, referred to as the Western Blot test, is run to confirm a positive result. When the EIA or ELISA is used in conjunction with the Western Blot confirmation test, the results are more than 99.9% accurate. Results from EIA/ELISA HIV tests are usually available several days to several weeks later.
• Oral Antibody HIV Tests. Oral HIV antibody EIA and oral HIV antibody Western Blot tests are alternatives to blood tests. Oral testing is done with samples of mucous from inside the cheeks and gums rather than with blood. Oral tests have been approved by the FDA and are as accurate as blood tests. This test is done to detect the presence of HIV antibodies, not the virus itself. No cases of HIV transmission have been attributed to saliva.