Ampath Diagnostic Guide | Pathology solutions are in our DNA
🔬 What is HIV?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infects and gradually destroys the immune system by targeting helper T-cells, also known as CD4 T-lymphocytes.
- These cells coordinate the immune response against infections and cancer
- HIV replicates inside CD4 cells, eventually killing them and spreading to new cells
🦠 What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome:
- Acquired – Infection comes from outside the body
- Immune Deficiency – Weakened immune system
- Syndrome – A group of related health conditions
A person with HIV may develop AIDS when their immune system is severely compromised, increasing the risk of infections and cancers.
💉 How is HIV Transmitted?
- Unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral)
- From mother to child (vertical transmission):
- Through the placenta (~10%)
- During birth (~60%)
- Through breastfeeding (~30%)
- Blood transfusions (rare today due to screening)
- Sharing needles (e.g. drug use, accidental needle-pricks in healthcare)
🤒 Symptoms of Early (Acute) HIV Infection
2–4 weeks after infection, some may experience flu-like symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Diarrhoea
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Muscle and joint pain
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Rash
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Open sores on the skin and mucous membranes
❗ These symptoms are non-specific — the only way to confirm infection is through an HIV test.
🧪 Testing for HIV
✅ Adults and Children > 18 Months
- HIV ELISA test (antibody detection)
- Highly sensitive screening test
- All positives must be confirmed with another test
- A follow-up specimen is required to confirm the result and rule out lab error
Self-referral testing is available for anyone 18 years or older at any Ampath Care Centre.
👶 Infants < 18 Months (born to HIV-positive mothers)
- HIV PCR test is used to detect HIV DNA
- ELISA is not reliable in infants due to maternal antibodies crossing the placenta
🕐 What is the Window Period?
- Time from infection to antibody production (~3 weeks)
- During this window period, a person may test negative despite being infected
- Most people test positive by 3 weeks post-infection
📊 Monitoring HIV: CD4 Count & Viral Load
Two key lab tests help manage HIV:
- CD4+ T-cell count – Measures immune system health
- HIV viral load – Measures amount of virus in the blood
These tests are used to:
- Assess disease severity
- Track progression and treatment response
- Confirm a positive HIV diagnosis
💊 Treatment of HIV
- HIV is treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART)
- Standard treatment includes three medications to stop HIV replication
- ART:
- Prevents further immune system damage
- Allows partial recovery of immune function
- Is most effective when started early
Frequent HIV testing allows for early diagnosis and successful treatment.
🦠 What are Opportunistic Infections?
When the immune system is weak, infections can occur that wouldn’t normally affect healthy people.
Examples include:
- Oral thrush (Candida)
- Tuberculosis
❓ Is There a Cure for HIV/AIDS?
- No, there is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS
- ART prevents the development of AIDS if started early enough
✅ Prevention of HIV Infection
- Treat HIV-positive individuals with ART to reduce transmission
- Use condoms, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), and sterile needles
- PrEP is a daily medication for HIV-negative individuals at high risk
- PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) should be taken immediately after exposure (e.g. unprotected sex or rape)
- Encourage voluntary and confidential testing (VCT) with counselling
- HIV-positive mothers can receive treatment to reduce risk of transmission to babies
✅ HIV is Transmitted Through:
- Unprotected sex
- Blood transfusion
- Pregnancy (mother to child)
- Sharing needles
- Non-sterile medical instruments
🚫 HIV is NOT Transmitted Through:
- Touching
- Kissing
- Insect bites
- Sharing food or water
📱 Ampath App
Your results are available on the Ampath App:
- Some results may require explanation from your doctor before appearing
- 🔗 onelink.to/ampath
🛡️ Take Action
- ✅ Get the facts
- ✅ Know the risks
- ✅ Get tested
- ✅ Protect yourself and others