HIV - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C Blood Test

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that weakens the body's ability to fight infections and illnesses. If left untreated, HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). HIV is present in the bodily fluids of an infected person, including semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood, and breast milk, but it cannot be transmitted through sweat, urine, or saliva. 

The most common way of contracting HIV in the UK is through unprotected sex with an infected partner. The virus can also be caught by sharing needles during drug use. Some people experience flu-like symptoms for around two to six weeks after infection. After these symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause further symptoms for many years, although the virus continues to damage the immune system. Many people with HIV don’t know they’re infected.

Hepatitis B and C are liver infections caused by a virus that’s spread through blood and bodily fluids. Hepatitis B can be passed from person to person through blood, semen, and vaginal fluids, as well as infected needles or syringes. Hepatitis C is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. Although many people experience no symptoms, hepatitis B and C may cause flu-like symptoms, fatigue, jaundice, and fever.

Our confidential blood test looks for specific HIV antibodies that are produced shortly after infection. A p24 antigen test is also carried out to increase the chances of detecting an infection sooner after exposure. This test also checks for hepatitis B and C infections.

Provided you take your sample according to the instructions and at the right time after suspected exposure, this test is shown to be very accurate.

Clinical studies carried out by assay manufacturers demonstrate that this test is likely to pick up almost all (99% or more) cases of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in people with the infection. The table below shows the test’s ability to accurately detect infections (known as the test’s sensitivity) and true-negative results (known as the test’s specificity) for each of the infections.

	Sensitivity (%)	Specificity (%)
HIV	100	99.87-99.92
Hepatitis B	99.9	99.88-99.98
Hepatitis C	100	99.66-99.85

Like any test, it’s possible to receive a false-negative or false-positive result, but this is very rare.

You can minimise your risk of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C by practising safe sex and avoiding sharing razors, toothbrushes, or needles with others.

It’s possible to get a vaccination against hepatitis B if you’re at higher risk due to factors including having HIV, liver or kidney disease, or if you have a job that’s deemed high-risk.

Most adults who are HIV-negative can take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if they’re at increased risk of HIV — for example, men who have sex with men (MSM) who have condomless sex, and people with HIV-positive partners who are not known to be virally suppressed. Speak to your GP or nearest sexual health clinic for more information about PrEP. 

Our doctors will phone you if any of your results are positive to explain what your results mean and the appropriate next steps. This often involves another blood test to confirm the result, informing any recent sexual partners, and attending a sexual health clinic for follow-up and support.

Although we can’t provide treatment for a positive result, we can signpost you to an appropriate service.

Whilst awaiting a confirmatory result, you can protect others by practising safe sex (or abstaining) and avoiding sharing needles with others.

This test can detect cases of HIV and hepatitis B and C as early as four weeks after exposure. However, we recommend a repeat HIV test at 12 weeks to confirm your result.