HIV & AIDS: Tests & Treatments at University of Colorado Hospital

Tests for HIV & AIDS

A variety of blood tests are used to diagnose HIV. Once HIV has been confirmed, different blood tests are used to evaluate the progression and effects of the HIV. Some of the more common tests include:

CD4 (t-cell) tests – measure the health of your immune system and its ability to fight disease

HIV viral load tests – determine how quickly the HIV virus is multiplying

HIV resistance testing – determines whether treatments are effective in controlling the HIV virus, and provide health-care providers with important information to treat HIV

Treatments for HIV & AIDS

A number of medications are used to treat different aspects of HIV/AIDS. These include:

Antiretroviral therapy drugs – slow the growth of the HIV virus

Others medications – used to fight infections that are caused by HIV