HIV DUO Testing
The Better2Know HIV DUO test can detect the HIV virus from 28 days after contracting the infection. Its status as a DUO test is such because it combines an antibody test for both strains of HIV, with an antigen test for the p24 antigen.
An antigen is a foreign substance that activates the body's creation of antibodies. With HIV, the p24 protein is the antigen that most commonly triggers the body's antibody response. During the first few weeks after someone becomes infected, the HIV viruses quickly produce the p24 antigen. This is detectable in their blood, meaning that p24 antigen is the first marker of the presence of HIV.
With facilities in major cities such as Johannesburg, Mombassa and Nairobi, Better2Know’s HIV DUO test is available across Africa. With this popular testing option, we can detect an HIV infection much faster than an antibody test can by itself. This fourth generation HIV test is extremely accurate after just four weeks, and is used for diagnosing HIV much earlier in the course of the infection.
Once collected, Better2Know will send your blood sample to our fully accredited laboratory for swift and efficient analysis. The results are usually available five working days from receipt of the sample by the laboratory. The HIV DUO test is considered 99.8% accurate at 28 days. This accuracy increases to 99.9% at 90 days after any potential exposure.