HIV is a virus that affects disease-fighting T cells in the immune system. When these cells are not working properly, infections, cancers, and diseases can more easily cause illness.

 

HIV is passed from person to person through contact with body fluids — blood, breast milk, and semen — and is considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI) because one of the main routes of transmission is through sex without a condom or other barrier method.

 

Another primary route of transmission is through sharing needles with a person who has HIV. Any other activity that can expose an individual to body fluids containing HIV may also lead to transmission of the virus.

 

Without treatment, HIV can become stage 3 HIV, or AIDS. However, it may take several months or years for the virus to progress, according to the National Institutes of Health.

 

That said, there is no cure for HIV. It is a chronic illness. Treatment focuses on managing the virus and keeping the viral load low. Viral load is just another way of saying how much virus is in the body.

 

Early detection is key, especially during pregnancy. While having a low viral load may reduce the chances of passing the virus to an unborn child, an infant may contract the virus.

 

HIV symptoms during pregnancy

Symptoms in the beginning stages of HIV may be hard to spot. Symptoms of acute infection may begin around 2 to 4 weeks after first exposure to the virus. Symptoms are similar to those of the flu.

 

Symptoms of HIV may include:

 

Not everyone has symptoms in this stage, though, so experts recommend testing whenever contact with the virus is suspected. After initial symptoms, the virus enters the clinical latency stage. This stage of the virus can last between 10 to 15 years and may produce few or no symptoms.

 

What types of HIV tests are available during pregnancy?

Testing for HIV in pregnancy is the same testing that is offered to non-pregnant people. The first-line tests screen the blood or saliva for antibodies and antigens — these are proteins in the blood that fight infection.

 

Antigen/antibody tests

This blood test can detect HIV just 18 to 45 days after initial exposure. It looks for both the HIV antibodies and antigens present in the blood. Both standard and rapid antigen/antibody tests are available. The rapid test uses a finger prick and may not detect the virus for up to 90 days after exposure.

 

Antibody tests

This blood or saliva test can detect HIV in 23 to 90 days after initial exposure. Many rapid tests are antibody tests, including the at-home self-test. Antibody tests that are performed using blood from a vein detect HIV sooner than those done by finger prick or with saliva.

 

Nucleic acid tests (NATs)

This blood test can detect HIV in just 10 to 33 days after initial exposure. It looks for the virus in the blood versus just the antibodies. NATs are expensive and are not usually the first test given unless there is a confirmed exposure to HIV or there are symptoms.

 

The specific test given may depend on:

 

the location where testing is performed

the conditions of exposure (confirmed versus suspected exposure)

whether an individual is symptomatic

how long ago exposed to the virus may have occurred