Living with HIV in the Philippines: Email 656: Reactive in the HIV Test

Hi,

I just had a test from the "Quickie Event" last September 20. Unfortunately, my results were reactive. What does it mean? Does it mean that I am positive? Also from the bottom, it says :" for confirmatory test". Do I have to wait for the result or do I have to assume that I am already positive and start taking medication or treatment. And also, they have referred me to take the baseline test in ARG? I appear to be healthy in fact, I am getting fatter.

Hope you can help me.

XXX

POZZIEPINOY’S RESPONSE

Hi XXX.

Thank you for your email.

I am proud of you for taking the HIV Test and being responsible for your health. I really hope that others will also do what you did.

To answer your questions, reactive to HIV test means that HIV antibodies are detected by the rapid test. This means, you are HIV positive in the screening test and a confirmatory test (Western Blot test) which is more specific will be done to confirm the test result.

In the Quickie Event, the tests used are the two tests (rapid and particle agglutination) that RITM Satellite Clinic is using.If the result is reactive, this will be accepted in RITM-ARG, one of the biggest HIV/AIDS Treatment Hubs in the Philippines and you don't need to wait for the confirmatory result anymore. However, you can still wait for the confirmatory and return to RITM Satellite Clinic in Malate to get the result, usually after 2 weeks.

Also, being healthy physically doesn't mean that you don't have HIV. It just means that you got tested early, thus the HIV has not done it's damage to your immune sytem yet.

My advice to you is just go to RITM-ARG in Alabang ASAP so you can get your baseline tests. If you are scared, our Care Assistant Manager for Hubs can assist you. Please click the link below:

CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - HUBS

I hope I was able to answer your concerns. Feel free to email me again if you have other questions.

Stay healthy,

Pozziepinoy