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The INSTI test kit is the only rapid HIV test that is licenced for use in Canada. The test uses a few drops of blood, which are taken from a finger poke. People who test negative will know their result within a few minutes. If the test is...

Window periods are based on averages or statistics from studies. Different HIV tests have different window periods. As HIV testing technology improves, window periods may become more specific or even get shorter. HIV tests used in British...

During this time, there are very high levels of HIV in the body. This is known as a high viral load. When a person has a high viral load, they can easily pass HIV to others. Causes When a person gets HIV, the virus makes copies called CD4...

How does it work? The INSTI® HIV Self-Test is an HIV antibody test which detects antibodies produced in response to HIV. Antibodies to HIV can take time to develop after an exposure. It can take 3 to 12 weeks for this test to detect...

Hepatitis A usually goes away on its own and is preventable with vaccination.  Hepatitis A typically can last for several weeks, but rarely causes long-term health problems. Causes The hepatitis A is found in the stool of a person who...

Vaccines are made from weakened or killed bacteria or virus. When a person is given a vaccine, the body's immune system responds to the ‘invading’ germs. The body creates anti-bodies to the bacteria or virus which protect the person...

Causes HIV is passed through vaginal and anal sexual contact.  This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is an exchange of body fluids.  There is a very low chance that HIV may be passed through oral...

Herpes can be managed.  It is a very common STI in British Columbia. There are two types of herpes simplex virus: herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 is commonly found around the mouth and is often called "...

If I have HIV, what are the chances that my HIV test will still show negative? To find out, drag the slider to the number of days since you think you were exposed to HIV.   0 days > 100 days 0days Probability of false...

Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be done at a public health unit, health clinic or doctor’s office. A visit may take between 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the clinic and what tests you need. It may be helpful to...

If I have HIV, what are the chances that my HIV test will still show negative? To find out, drag the slider to the number of days since you think you were exposed to HIV.   0 days > 100 days 0days Probability of...

As of January 13, 2020, the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory (BCCDC PHL) will implement automatic hepatitis C (HCV) RNA nucleic acid testing (NAT) reflex testing for all new HCV cases. This is a change from the previous two-step process that...

Testing for HIV can create anxiety for many individuals, especially those who want to know as soon as possible whether or not they are HIV positive. There are a variety of tests that are used to detect HIV; some test for antibodies...

Understanding the window period of HIV tests - time from infection to a positive result - is important in order to provide appropriate information to clients, including when to test after a possible exposure to HIV. Progress in HIV testing...

Background In 2013, the BCCDC published results of a pilot study [1] which confirmed the value of pooled nucleic acid testing (PNAT) to identify acute HIV infections in a high risk population of men who have sex with men. PNAT increased...

Article reviewed Patti E. Gravitt. The Known Unknowns of HPV.  J Clin Invest. 2011;121(12):4593-4599. doi:10.1172/JCI57149. Purpose of the study The discovery that certain high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) cause nearly 100...

What is an HIV self-test? Point of Care (POC) HIV tests, also known as “rapid” HIV tests, screen for HIV antibodies and have been used in clinics and health care settings for many years. On November 2, 2020, Health Canada approved the...

HIV testing can be intimidating for clients. They may fear: the process of being tested; waiting and worrying about the result; and, of course, the test result itself. As healthcare providers, we often look for ways to ease these fears in...

Syphilis testing The primary method for diagnosing syphilis is through serologic testing. However, in certain situations, it may be appropriate and clinically-indicated to perform one of the direct tests (i.e. swab of a lesion). ...

Background Prevalence and incidence are two basic measures of disease frequency used to inform our response to the Hepatitis C (HCV) epidemic. Prevalence is the total number of people living with chronic HCV infection, while incidence is...