HIV RNA Test for Early Detection
Our clinicians recommend the HIV RNA Early Detection Test if you think you may have been recently exposed to the HIV virus and STDcheck.com offers the only FDA-approved HIV RNA Test on the market.
RNA is the genetic material that makes up certain viruses, like HIV. This HIV test searches for the core genetic material of HIV rather than its antigens, or your body's immune response to it (antibodies); allowing for earlier detection (in as little as 9-11 days after exposure), making this test the most accurate HIV test available today.
Taking our HIV RNA Test is a simple process, just provide a small blood sample at a lab near you and be on your way in minutes. With more than 4,500 conveniently located testing centers nationwide, there is one in your area.
Results for HIV RNA are typically available within 2-4 business days, so get tested for HIV today with this specialized test and know your status.
All laboratory tests, including STD testing, measure accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Our FDA-approved HIV RNA Early Detection test has a sensitivity rate of 100% and a specificity of 99.83%.
HIV RNA
Testing Process
5 Minute
Testing processSample Required
Small Blood SampleResults
Ready in 2-4 daysDoctor Consultation
Over the phone, if results are positiveHIV RNA Test
Does this test use blood or urine?
The HIV RNA Early Detection Test is a blood test. A small blood sample will be drawn by our lab technicians to complete the test.
What do I need to do to prepare for the test?
No fasting or preparation is necessary.
When is the right time to take the HIV RNA Early Detection Test?
The HIV RNA Test for Early Detection is conclusive as early as 9-11 days post-exposure. We are the only online STD testing service that provides this FDA-approved HIV RNA Early Detection test. This test looks for the presence of HIV RNA in the plasma of patients. It can detect acute (new) HIV infection without the presence of antibodies (proteins produced by the body to fight against the HIV virus) in the blood, making the RNA test the most sensitive and accurate HIV RNA Early Detection test available on the market today.
What will the test results say?
If your results are negative, HIV was not found. If your results are positive, HIV was found in your bloodstream. If the initial blood test result is positive, a confirmation test will be completed on the same blood sample to confirm the result at no additional cost. A positive result for the HIV virus does not mean that you have AIDS.
Understanding your HIV Test results.
PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction. These types of tests can be used to determine if HIV genetic material (RNA) is in the sample. The sample blood will be tested for early infections before any antibodies have been produced.
HIV RNA Test Window Period
These tests determine if the HIV virus is present in the sample collected. There is an extremely short window to detect the virus - roughly 9 days after infection. This test is seldom used for screening because it is one of the most costly tests out there. It is only slightly better than an antigen/antibody test, which is more affordable. Still, this test can be done as a follow-up for a positive HIV test. It can even be used for screening for certain cases, like if someone was recently exposed to HIV and is having symptoms of an early HIV infection.
An early HIV infection can be detected with an RNA test if administered within 9 to 11 days after exposure. This is the window period to use an RNA test because antibody tests won’t detect HIV yet, as confirmed by the CDC.
When's the right time to take the HIV RNA Early Detection Test?
The CDC’s reports that about 1.2 million people in the United States were living with HIV at the end of 2012, the most recent year for which this information is available. Of those people, about 13%, or 1 in 8, did not know they were infected. Nearly 50,000 new infections are diagnosed every year in the U.S. With such high statistics, it is important to take an HIV RNA Early Detection test.
If you have had a recent unprotected sexual encounter, you have been put at risk of contracting HIV and other STDs. Our all-inclusive 10 Test Panel tests for all major STDs including HIV Types 1 & 2. Our clinicians recommend taking the HIV RNA Early Detection Test 9-11 days after possible exposure to HIV.
How accurate is the HIV RNA test at 11 days?
This test is about 95 to 99% accurate within 9-11 days after exposure.
When is an HIV RNA test conclusive?
The HIV RNA test is determined to be about 99% conclusive after 28 days from time of exposure. The test becomes less accurate 3 months after exposure. This is due to your body making antibodies to fight off the HIV virus. Thus, a detectable amount of the virus in the blood might drop below the detection limit that the RNA test measures.
Confirmation of HIV Tests
HIV testing is highly accurate, but there are cases of false positives. A standard HIV test measures antibodies in the blood sample. These are proteins made by the immune system that are responding to foreign substances, like HIV. What typically causes false positive results is when the test has detected antibodies produced by a different viral infection, not necessarily HIV.
That’s why an HIV RNA test can and should be used to confirm a positive HIV antibody test, since an HIV RNA test is looking for the core genetic material of the virus itself, not the antibodies produced by your body in reaction to a viral infection.
It’s so important to go with a trusted name with proven results. Our labs have been handling patients with the utmost accuracy for several decades and our medical staff is highly trained and ready to take care of your needs.
For answers to your questions, please call our Care Advisors 24/7 at 1-800-456-2323.
Medically Reviewed by Gill Sellick, MBChB on April 11, 2023
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What happens if you test positive for HIV RNA?
If you test positive for HIV RNA, you are eligible for an over the phone doctor consultation. Our doctors will answer any questions you might have about your results and discuss treatment options available to you at their discretion.
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