The Best Hepatitis C Test And Accurate For You To Use

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until liver damage shows up, decades later, during routine medical tests.

Hepatitis C is one of several hepatitis viruses and is generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses. Hepatitis C is passed through contact with contaminated blood — most commonly through needles shared during illegal drug use.

Most people have no symptoms until the virus causes liver damage, which can take 10 or more years to happen. Others have one or more of the following symptoms :

# yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice

# a longer than usual amount of time for bleeding to stop

# swollen stomach or ankles

# easy bruising

# tiredness

# upset stomach

# fever

# loss of appetite

# diarrhea

# light-colored stools

# dark yellow urine

Hepatitis C is chronic when the body can’t get rid of the hepatitis C virus. Although some people clear the virus from their bodies in a few months, most hepatitis C infections become chronic. Without treatment, chronic hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis; liver cancer; and liver failure.

Your risk of hepatitis C infection is increased if you :

# Are a health care worker who has been exposed to infected blood

# Have ever injected illicit drugs

# Have HIV

# Received a piercing or tattoo in an unclean environment using unsterile equipment

# Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992

# Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987

# Received hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time

# Were born to a woman with a hepatitis C infection

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis C if you :

# do not share drug needles

# wear gloves if you have to touch another person’s blood

# use a condom during sex

# do not borrow another person’s toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it

# make sure any tattoos or body piercings you get are done with sterile tools

# do not donate blood or blood products if you have hepatitis C

Testing for hepatitis C infection in people who have a high risk of coming in contact with the virus may help doctors begin treatment or recommend lifestyle changes that may slow liver damage. This is recommended because hepatitis C infection often begins damaging the liver before it causes signs and symptoms.

Immediate Detection by The Oral Aids Test

Oral sex has been shown to be a less risky activity than these practices, but is definitely not risk free. It’s also worth remembering that other sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis, herpes and gonorrhoea, can be quite easily transmitted through oral sex.

The likelihood that HIV is transmitted from an HIV-positive person to an HIV-negative person depends on the type of contact involved. HIV is most easily transmitted by unprotected anal sex (that is, without condoms), unprotected vaginal sex, sharing injecting equipment, and from mother to baby. It also depends on the viral load of the person with HIV, and the dental health of the person performing oral sex.

A number of studies have been published on the risks of HIV transmission from oral sex. One American study reported that of 122 gay men with HIV, 8% reported oral sex as their only risk activity. But this study doesn't have much credibility. The numbers of people were very small. Plus, some of the men in this study who initially said oral sex was their only risk activity, later said they'd had unprotected anal sex. 

Syphilis is a highly contagious disease spread primarily by sexual activity, including oral and anal sex. Occasionally, the disease can be passed to another person through prolonged kissing or close bodily contact. Although this disease is spread from sores, the vast majority of these sores go unrecognized. The infected person is often unaware of the disease and unknowingly passes it on to their sexual partner.

Pregnant women with the disease can spread it to their baby. This disease, called congenital syphilis, can cause abnormalities or even death to the child.

Syphilis cannot be spread by toilet seats, door knobs, swimming pools, hot tubs, bath tubs, shared clothing, or eating utensils.

Syphilis is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.

Chlamydia is a bacterial infection disease transmitted when people have sexual relations. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) with over 2.8 million affected individuals each year. Among adults, about 5% of the population is estimated to be infected. Among sexually active adolescent females, about 10% are infected.

Infection with chlamydia is most commonly found among the following Young adults (24 years and younger), 

People living in urban areas African Americans, Those with lower social and economic status

Chlamydia is an infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. The infection is transmitted in ways :

From one person to another through sexual contact (oral, anal, or vaginal) and from mother to child with passage of the child through the birth canal. Chlamydia can cause pneumonia or serious eye infections in a newborn, especially among children born to infected mothers.

Hepatitis B is an infectious hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Acute hepatitis B refers to newly acquired infections. Affected individuals notice symptoms approximately 1 to 4 months after exposure to the virus. In most people with acute hepatitis, symptoms resolve over weeks to months and they are cured of the infection. However, a small number of people develop a very severe, life-threatening form of acute hepatitis called fulminant hepatitis. 

Chronic hepatitis B is an infection with HBV that lasts longer than 6 months. Once the infection becomes chronic, it may never go away completely.

Chronic hepatitis B also can lead to a type of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma. 

Hepatitis C infection is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is one of several viruses that cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).  It is difficult for the human immune system to eliminate HCV from the body, and infection with HCV usually becomes chronic. Over decades, chronic infection with HCV damages the liver and can cause liver failure.

When the virus first enters the body, there usually are no symptoms. Up to 85% of newly-infected people fail to eliminate the virus and become chronically infected.  HCV infection is the leading cause of liver transplantation and is a risk factor for liver cancer. HCV is spread most commonly through inadvertent exposure to infected blood. Intravenous drug abuse is the most common mode of transmission. The risk of acquiring HCV through sexual contact is low. 

Chlamydia and Infertility

Chlamydia is the most common, curable, bacterial, sexually-transmitted infection in the UK. Last year there were almost 104,000 cases in genito-urinary clinics alone. The number of sexually active people under 25 infected with Chlamydia is now thought to be just under half a million - about one in ten.

It often has no obvious symptoms. But if it is left untreated it can lead to severe complications. It is widely believed to cause Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and sometimes infertility in women, and in men it can lead to inflammation of the testicles and sperm conducting tubes, and affect joints.

But in August 2005 Lord Robert Winston suggested the link between Chlamydia and infertility was not clear. He said:

"I think the evidence that Chlamydia affects fertility is very dubious. Most infertility is not due to Chlamydia. I haven't seen any figures that demonstrate that it is causing infertility. The link between Chlamydia and tubal disease is based on only two papers written in Sweden in the Sixties and it has never been checked. There's no British data."

But there is little room for doubt according to Professor Bill Ledger, a consultant at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire hospital and one of the UK's leading infertility specialists. In Sheffield, he and his three colleagues treat around 100 women a year who are experiencing problems due to Chlamydia. Nationally, he believes that up to a third of all IVF treatments are because of the damage caused by Chlamydia - that's somewhere between 5,000-10,000 couples.

It's believed that the Chlamydia infection damages the hairs along the fallopian tubes which help the egg travel from the ovaries to the womb. This damage can lead to scarring, which in turn leads the tubes to be blocked. 

Women with damaged tubes do occasionally fall pregnant but there is an increased risk of the pregnancy developing in the tubes rather than the womb. This is called an ectopic pregnancy. The tube can split apart causing serious pain and bleeding. This is an emergency because the bleeding can be life threatening. 

Women with damaged tubes do occasionally fall pregnant but there is an increased risk of the pregnancy developing in the tubes rather than the womb. This is called an ectopic pregnancy. The tube can split apart causing serious pain and bleeding. This is an emergency because the bleeding can be life threatening. 

One of the key papers, "Chlamydia and its effect on reproduction (1996)" by L.V. Westrom measured the likelihood of infertility after episodes of Chlamydia. His research found that 79 out of 1025 women (7.8%) were infertile because of post-salpingitic tubal occlusion compared with a control group where the incidence was just 0.9%.

The paper also measured the relative risk (RR) of infertility when considering the number of episodes of Chlamydia. It was 1% with no episodes, 5% after one episode, 11.3% after two episodes and 19.8% after three episodes

There is also evidence showing a relationship between Chlamydia screening and a fall in genital tract infections and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease amongst women. In Sweden in 1985 a Chlamydia screening programme was introduced across the country in a variety of health settings - including primary care (such as GPs) and at specialist clinics (such as GUMs). Rates of testing increased from 1985 to 1991 and a corresponding decrease occurred in the number of cases diagnosed. In one county the number of cases had falled to 40% of initial levels

In Wisconsin (USA), a state wide initiative in 1986 used risk factors to determine who should be screened. By 1990 a 53% decrase in prevalence was seen.4 In one randomised controlled trial of 2607 women, the number of Pelvic Inflammatory cases fell by 56%. 

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Human papillomavirus or HPV, is the name for a group of viruses that includes more than 100 types. More than 40 types of HPV can be passed through sexual contact.

The types of HPV that infect the genital area are called genital HPV. Over half of sexually active people will have HPV at some point in their lives. But most people never know it. This is because HPV most often has no symptoms and goes away on its own.

HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. HPV can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners—even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms.

A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV. Very rarely, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass HPV to her baby during delivery. In these cases, the child can develop Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP), a rare condition in which warts grow in the throat. In children, this is also referred to as juvenile-onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (JORRP).

It is important to remember that most women with high risk HPV don’t develop cervical cancer. We know from research that other factors affect whether you develop a cancer, such as how well your immune system is working or whether you smoke. Women who smoke and have a high risk type of HPV infection are more likely to go on to get cervical cancer.

People with low immunity also have an increased risk of cervical cancer. Your immunity may be low because you take certain medicines for another condition, or because you have an illness that affects your immunity, such as HIV or AIDS. If you have low immunity, it is particularly important to have regular cervical screening.

Most women who have HPV infections never know it. This is one reason why you need regular Pap tests. A Pap test is when a cell sample is taken from your cervix and looked at with a microscope. A Pap test can find changes on the cervix caused by HPV. To do a Pap test, your doctor will use a small brush to take cells from your cervix. It’s simple, fast, and the best way to find out if your cervix is healthy.

Many women worry about becoming infected with HPV again after they have had treatment for abnormal cervical cells. Viruses are difficult to treat and your body gets rid of them by developing immunity to them. This may take from a few months to a few years.

Some women worry about whether their partner has the virus and could reinfect them. Men aren’t routinely tested for HPV because the only way for a man to find out if he has the virus is to have several biopsies. Even then, a negative result only means that HPV wasn’t found on those biopsies and not necessarily that he doesn’t have HPV at all. Our bodies clear the virus. So, even if a man has the virus when he is test, his immune system may get rid of it before the test result comes back.

Some types of HPV can increase your risk of developing cancers in other parts of the body, not just the cervix. Not everyone with these types of HPV will go on to develop cancer. These cancers are rare and other factors are necessary before cancer will develop.  Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading HPV. A vaccine can protect against several types of HPV, including some that can cause cancer.

In our modern world we need modern solutions to stay safe. Whether for regular self screening or for testing a potential partner for STDs, a fast and accurate test that can be used in the privacy of your home is the solution for safety and peace of mind.

We offer STD tests for HIV using urine, saliva, or blood, and offer a full range of STD testing kits including Chlamydia, Herpes, hpv genital warts, Syphylis. We also carry infectious diseases tests such as Hepatitis B and C, Cytomegalovirus, Rubella, Toxoplasmosis, Trichomas and Vaginal Candiasis.

For women we highly recommend our HPV genital warts test as some forms of HPV can develop into cervical cancer.

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Rapid STD Test Kits

Home Bio Test

Get Home Rapid Gonorrhea Test Best For Our

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix (opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women and men. The bacterium can also grow in the mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.

Gonorrhea is spread through contact with the penis, vagina, mouth, or anus. Ejaculation does not have to occur for gonorrhea to be transmitted or acquired. Gonorrhea can also be spread from mother to baby during delivery.

People who have had gonorrhea and received treatment may get infected again if they have sexual contact with a person infected with gonorrhea.

Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults.

Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. However, some men have signs or symptoms that appear one to fourteen days after infection. Symptoms and signs include a burning sensation when urinating, or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the penis. Sometimes men with gonorrhea get painful or swollen testicles.

In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Even when a woman has symptoms, they can be so non-specific as to be mistaken for a bladder or vaginal infection. The initial symptoms and signs in women include a painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, or vaginal bleeding between periods. Women with gonorrhea are at risk of developing serious complications from the infection, regardless of the presence or severity of symptoms.

Symptoms of rectal infection in both men and women may include discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, or painful bowel movements. Rectal infection also may cause no symptoms. Infections in the throat may cause a sore throat, but usually causes no symptoms.

If a pregnant woman has gonorrhea, she may give the infection to her baby as the baby passes through the birth canal during delivery. This can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection in the baby. Treatment of gonorrhea as soon as it is detected in pregnant women will reduce the risk of these complications. Pregnant women should consult a health care provider for appropriate examination, testing, and treatment, as necessary.

We all want to protect ourselves and each other from infections like gonorrhea. Learning more about gonorrhea is an important first step. 

Gonorrhea at a Glance :

>> A common sexually transmitted disease (STD)

>> Often has no symptoms

>> Easily treated

>> Easily spread with or without symptoms

>> Condoms offer good protection

Want to get tested for gonorrhea? 

The Home Bio Gonorrhea test is an easy to use, accurate and reliable assay that will detect antibodies to the bacteria that cause gonorrhea present on swab samples collected from the cervix or the urethra.

The test is easy to use and the result is available within minutes – in the privacy of your own home.

Accurate and Specific

Our test kits are the same as those used by doctors and other healthcare professionals to screen for infection with gonorrhea. The test is specific for Neisseria gonorrhea bacteria and has an accuracy of greater than 99.8%.

Performing the test

Using the swab provided, a sample is taken from the cervix (women) or urethra (men) and transferred to the extraction solution. A second solution is added and then the test strip is briefly into the solution and removed. The easy to read result will develop after ten minutes and you will learn if you have a gonorrhea infection or not.

The test comes with an easy to understand instruction sheet.

The Best Hepatitis C Test And Accurate For You To Use

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until liver damage shows up, decades later, during routine medical tests.

Hepatitis C is one of several hepatitis viruses and is generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses. Hepatitis C is passed through contact with contaminated blood — most commonly through needles shared during illegal drug use.

Most people have no symptoms until the virus causes liver damage, which can take 10 or more years to happen. Others have one or more of the following symptoms :

# yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice

# a longer than usual amount of time for bleeding to stop

# swollen stomach or ankles

# easy bruising

# tiredness

# upset stomach

# fever

# loss of appetite

# diarrhea

# light-colored stools

# dark yellow urine

Hepatitis C is chronic when the body can’t get rid of the Hepatitis C virus. Although some people clear the virus from their bodies in a few months, most Hepatitis C infections become chronic. Without treatment, chronic Hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis; liver cancer; and liver failure.

Your risk of hepatitis C infection is increased if you :

# Are a health care worker who has been exposed to infected blood

# Have ever injected illicit drugs

# Have HIV

# Received a piercing or tattoo in an unclean environment using unsterile equipment

# Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992

# Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987

# Received hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time

# Were born to a woman with a hepatitis C infection

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis C if you :

# do not share drug needles

# wear gloves if you have to touch another person’s blood

# use a condom during sex

# do not borrow another person’s toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it

# make sure any tattoos or body piercings you get are done with sterile tools

# do not donate blood or blood products if you have hepatitis C

Testing for hepatitis C infection in people who have a high risk of coming in contact with the virus may help doctors begin treatment or recommend lifestyle changes that may slow liver damage. This is recommended because hepatitis C infection often begins damaging the liver before it causes signs and symptoms.

Get For Your Personal Rapid Chlamydia Test

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide; thus, rapid detection and treatment are crucial to prevent further transmission. Investigators assessed the performance of the Chlamydia Rapid Test using self-collected vaginal swab specimens from women. The gold standard of comparison was polymerase chain reaction testing of first-void urine specimens.

Chlamydia, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, is the most common sexually-transmitted bacterial infection in the UK, particularly amongst sexually active men and women aged 16-24 years.
In the majority of cases, the disease is asymptomatic in both men and women. If symptoms show, they may include discharge or pain when passing urine for men. Recent research suggests that, if untreated – even when no symptoms show – it may be a cause of reduced fertility. In women, it can lead to even more serious complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain and ectopic pregnancy.

Screening has recently shown that in some parts of Britain, 10 per cent to 20 per cent of young adults have chlamydia.
Chlamydia can be cured, but unfortunately it often produces no symptoms in either men or women, so it can remain undetected.

Some women may experience: cystitis, change in vaginal discharge, mild lower abdominal pain.
These are very 'non-specific’ symptoms and can be caused by other infections and diseases. If you go to a GP or family planning doctor with these symptoms, make sure you have a chlamydia test. You are entitled to ask for the test if you aren't offered it.
In men, chlamydia often causes of discharge from the penis. Sometimes it can cause mild irritation at the tip of the penis that disappears after two or three days.
Many men will wait to see if the discomfort goes away. While the discomfort may disappear, the man can still harbour the infection.
If in doubt, get tested. Otherwise, you could put yourself at risk of inflamed and swollen testicles, and pass chlamydia on to your partner.

Once diagnosed, Chlamydia can be treated easily with a one-off antibiotic pill. However, until now, male rapid tests for Chlamydia have been relatively inaccurate and involved urethral swabs, which can cause discomfort.
The Chlamydia Rapid Test, a urine test can be used with minimal training. It is designed to be used in conjunction with FirstBurst, a device for collecting the first voided urine from men. FirstBurst collects six times the amount of Chlamydia bacteria compared to a standard urine sample to boost the test's sensitivity and gives the results in less than an hour.

Basic Facts About Hepatitis A, B, and C

How you can contract it; Functions of the liver; What can happen when hepatitis progresses--fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure

Hepatitis is considered one of the most prevalent health problems of the 1990s. The World Health Organization reports that 1.4 million cases of Hepatitis A are treated annually worldwide. In the United States, close to 5 million adults have hepatitis B or C, and this may be only a small percentage of the total of infected individuals.

Hepatitis A:
Hepatitis A (HAV), the most prevalent type of hepatitis worldwide, strikes more than 150,000 people in the United States annually.

Hepatitis B:
Each year, more than 250,000 people contract hepatitis B (HBV) in the United States.

Hepatitis C:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 30,000 individuals acquire hepatitis C (HCV) infections in the United States each year. In other parts of the world, the rates of infection and numbers in infected individuals range as high as 20 percent of the population. Called "an emerging public health threat" and the "silent epidemic," hepatitis C is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is now the leading reason for liver transplantation in the United States.

Risk factors

Major risk factors for Hepatitis A
The CDC lists household or sexual contact, day care attendance or employment, and recent international travel to areas with poor sanitation as major known risk factors for infection with hepatitis A. Eating food prepared by infected food handlers and using contaminated needles are other risk factors.

Major risk factors for Hepatitis B
In the United States, the major risk factors for hepatitis B are unprotected sex with multiple partners and intravenous (IV) drug use.

Major risk factors for Hepatitis C
The major risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C are IV drug use and transfusion of blood or blood products prior to 1992. Other risk factors also contribute.

 

Hepatitis

Use Equipment Hepatitis B Test An Accurate

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver, which follows a very variable course. The hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause an acute illness that resolves itself quickly without causing long-term liver damage. However, in about 20% of cases it causes a chronic illness that lasts more than six months, sometimes for life, with symptoms that come and go. In 15-40% of those with chronic infection cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure develop, and so the infection may eventually be fatal.

The virus is usually transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Only a tiny amount of blood is needed to transmit the virus because it's so infectious. The hepatitis B virus may also be present in saliva, vaginal secretions, breast milk and other bodily fluids. Many people contract hepatitis B while on holiday, especially in countries where it is very prevalent, when unprotected sex, experimenting with drugs and accidents needing medical treatment are far more likely.

The incubation period of the hepatitis B virus before symptoms develop is between six weeks and six months. In the acute phase symptoms vary. Roughly one-third of cases have no symptoms - this is called a silent or subclinical infection, or sometimes anicteric infection, meaning there is no jaundice or yellow appearance of the skin and membranes. In another third of cases, the infection causes mild symptoms similar to those of a flu-like illness, with weakness, aches, headache, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, jaundice, nausea and vomiting. In the final third of cases, the acute phase of infection can cause severe illness that last many months. In addition to the flu-like symptoms, there's abdominal pain, diarrhoea and jaundice.

Infections Associated with AIDS

Because people with AIDS have weakened immune systems, they're more prone to infections, called opportunistic infections. Opportunistic infections are caused by organisms that typically don't cause disease in healthy people but affect people with damaged immune systems. These organisms attack when there's an opportunity to infect.
Deterioration of the immune system is caused by the decline in CD4+ T cells, which are key infection fighters. As soon as HIV enters the body, it begins to destroy these cells.

Opportunistic Infections: Brain
Cryptoccoccal Menigitis — This is a yeast-like fungus infection that usually involves the brain and lungs, although it can affect almost any organ. The fungus that causes this condition is found in soil throughout the world. It is most common in soil contaminated by bird droppings. This disease most often occurs when a person's CD4+ T cell count falls below 100 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.

Genital Herpes Information

What most refer to as herpes is actually family of socially transmitted diseases caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1 cold sores) and type 2 (HSV-2 genital herpes). Other types of the virus are commonly known as shingles and the Epstein-Barr virus. Most people who carry the virus have no or only minimal signs of an infection. Because of this, many people are unaware that they have the virus. Telling signs of an infection include one or more blisters on the face or genitals that break and leave small ulcers that may take 2 to 4 weeks to heal initially. The blisters recur periodically over time, typically about 5 times per year. The frequency of outbreaks usually reduces over time.

For most healthy people it is harmless. Rare severe cases of HSV-1 on the head or face may lead to serious conditions. Extra precautions for pregnant women at the time of delivery are needed to prevent genital herpes transmission to the baby which can sometimes be fatal to infants.
The disease is very common. In the US about 20% of adults are have the infection. Because the symptoms can often be mild, most people do not know they have the disease or mistake it for other causes like insect bites. About 1 million new cases are reported every year. Millions more likely go unreported.

Use Hiv Saliva Test The Right For You

Many people live with the myth, that HIV and its harmful components are present in the saliva of a HIV positive person. Hence, kissing or sharing food with the patient can be contagious due to the presence of HIV in saliva. However, this is not true. Though the saliva might carry HIV viral RNA or proviral DNA, they are not harmful, when they reside in the human saliva.

The saliva does not carry HIV that could be infectious or contagious. This is because; the saliva does not offer a very favorable condition for the sustenance of HIV. In fact, saliva is a good agent of destroying this virus. It carries special antibodies that fight the HIV components. The antiseptic and "hypotonic" property of saliva is conditioned to destroy any foreign cell that is present in the mouth. It works as a natural defense mechanism in our body.

HIV requires a good quantity of salt for its survival. Therefore, blood gives HIV the most favorable environment for propagation. Saliva, on the contrary, deactivates 90% of the HIV- infected leukocytes, due to lack of salt. Leukocytes or the blood cells, which help in the transmission of HIV to the mucosal surface, fail to succeed in their purpose. The HIV in saliva expands and bursts, due to lack of salt.

Hepatitis C Test The Best and Accurate to be Used

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until liver damage shows up, decades later, during routine medical tests.

Hepatitis C is one of several hepatitis viruses and is generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses. Hepatitis C is passed through contact with contaminated blood — most commonly through needles shared during illegal drug use.

Most people have no symptoms until the virus causes liver damage, which can take 10 or more years to happen. Others have one or more of the following symptoms :

# yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice

# a longer than usual amount of time for bleeding to stop

# swollen stomach or ankles

# easy bruising

# tiredness

# upset stomach

# fever

# loss of appetite

# diarrhea

# light-colored stools

# dark yellow urine

Hepatitis C is chronic when the body can’t get rid of the hepatitis C virus. Although some people clear the virus from their bodies in a few months, most hepatitis C infections become chronic. Without treatment, chronic hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis; liver cancer; and liver failure.

Rapid Herpes Test Accurate For You

Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is referred to as type 1 (HSV1) or type 2 (HSV2). It causes painful blisters to appear on the genitals and the surrounding areas. Genital herpes can be passed to others through sexual contact.
HSV1 is acquired orally and the most common symptom is cold sores. HSV2 is acquired through sexual contact and affects mainly the genital area.

The herpes simplex is a virus and works as such. It causes ulcers or sores such as cold sores or genital blisters. It is an effective virus, but one the human immune system is equipped to fight. Of those people infected with the virus, the majority of them are asymptomatic.
It is passed through sexual contact, so is regarded as a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). This is because the moist skin that lines the mouth, genitals and anus is the most susceptible to infection.
The virus can also enter the body through a cut or abrasion on the skin. If the wound comes into contact with a cold sore for example, the virus can pass into the body. This is rare, but does happen occasionally.

If symptoms do occur in the infected, they appear between 2 and 8 days after contracting the virus. The symptoms will generally last up to a month, then disappear.
Symptoms include:
>> Itching or tingling sensation in the genital or anal area
>> Small fluid-filled blisters that burst leaving small sores
>> Flu-like symptoms, including swollen glands or fever
>> Pain when passing urine over the open sores (especially in women)
>> Headaches
>> Backache
Any of these symptoms can be caused by a number of things, which is why the virus is difficult to identify. The initial symptoms will disappear, only to reappear at random times. Not everyone will display the initial outbreak, let alone further ones.
As each outbreak appears, the symptoms become less and less. This is because the immune system fights the virus effectively and suppresses it when it arises. Anyone, including those who have been previously asymptomatic, may display symptoms when under stress or ill with something else. The weakness of the immune system as it fights something else can allow the virus to surface again.

Basic Facts About Hepatitis A, B, and C

How you can contract it; Functions of the liver; What can happen when hepatitis progresses--fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure

Hepatitis is considered one of the most prevalent health problems of the 1990s. The World Health Organization reports that 1.4 million cases of hepatitis A are treated annually worldwide. In the United States, close to 5 million adults have hepatitis B or C, and this may be only a small percentage of the total of infected individuals.

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A (HAV), the most prevalent type of hepatitis worldwide, strikes more than 150,000 people in the United States annually.

Hepatitis B
Each year, more than 250,000 people contract hepatitis B (HBV) in the United States.

Hepatitis C
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 30,000 individuals acquire hepatitis C (HCV) infections in the United States each year. In other parts of the world, the rates of infection and numbers in infected individuals range as high as 20 percent of the population. Called "an emerging public health threat" and the "silent epidemic," hepatitis C is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, and is now the leading reason for liver transplantation in the United States.

Risk factors 

Major risk factors for hepatitis A
The CDC lists household or sexual contact, day care attendance or employment, and recent international travel to areas with poor sanitation as major known risk factors for infection with hepatitis A. Eating food prepared by infected food handlers and using contaminated needles are other risk factors.

Major risk factors for hepatitis B
In the United States, the major risk factors for hepatitis B are unprotected sex with multiple partners and intravenous (IV) drug use.

Major risk factors for hepatitis C
The major risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C are IV drug use and transfusion of blood or blood products prior to 1992. Other risk factors also contribute.

Revealed More Clearly About Symptoms of Hepatitis

Hepatitis is the Greek term for liver inflammation. It is characterised by the destruction of a number of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue.
Hepatitis can be caused by viruses that primarily attack the liver cells, such as hepatitis A and B. Patients with glandular fever, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, can also suffer from an attack of hepatitis.

The symptoms of acute hepatitis vary considerably from person to person. Some patients have no symptoms at all, and in most cases, children only show mild symptoms.
In the early stages: tiredness, general malaise, slight fever, nausea, poor appetite, changes in taste perception, pressure or pain below the right ribs caused by an enlarged liver, aching muscles and joints, headache, skin rash.
The jaundiced phase: yellowing of sclerae (the whites of the eyes), skin and mucous membranes, dark urine, light-coloured stools, around this time, the other symptoms subside.
The recovery phase: tiredness that can last for weeks.
The symptoms Chronic hepatitis : Many patients have no symptoms. Tiredness, an increased need for sleep, aching muscles and joints. Periodic light pressure or pain below the right ribs – enlarged liver. Jaundice is a very late symptom of chronic hepatitis. It is a sign that the disease has become serious.

Signs and symptoms of hepatitis A
The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is found in the faeces of someone infected with the virus. It only takes a tiny amount of faeces getting inside another person’s mouth to cause hepatitis A infection. Personal hygiene, such as careful hand washing, can minimise the risk of the virus being passed on. HAV is a common infection in many parts of the world where sanitation and sewage infrastructure is poor. Often people become infected with HAV by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
Hepatitis A is also classed as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) because it can be passed on sexually, particularly during activities such as anilingus (rimming). The washing of genital and anal areas before sex, and the use of condoms or dental dams can help to prevent this risk.Hepatitis A can affect all age groups. Once a person is exposed to the virus it takes between 2 and 6 weeks to produce symptoms.
It is possible to experience mild or no symptoms whatsoever, but even if this is the case the person’s faeces will still be infectious to others. Many people who become infected with HAV will have symptoms that include:
A short, mild, flu-like illness; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea; loss of appetite; weight loss; jaundice (yellow skin and whites of eyes, darker yellow urine and pale faeces); itchy skin; abdominal pain.
The infection usually clears in up to 2 months, but may occasionally recur or persist longer in some people. Once a person has been infected and their body has fought off the virus they are permanently immune.

Exposure of Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by a virus that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. Most people infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have no symptoms. In fact, most people don't know they have the hepatitis C infection until liver damage shows up, decades later, during routine medical tests.

Hepatitis C is one of several hepatitis viruses and is generally considered to be among the most serious of these viruses. Hepatitis C is passed through contact with contaminated blood — most commonly through needles shared during illegal drug use.

In most cases, the initial infection doesn't cause any symptoms. When it does, they tend to be vague and non-specific. The most common symptom experienced is fatigue, which may be mild but is sometimes extreme. Many people initially diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome are later found to have hepatitis C. Unlike hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C doesn't usually cause people to develop jaundice.

Most people have no symptoms until the virus causes liver damage, which can take 10 or more years to happen. Others have one or more of the following symptoms :
# yellowish eyes and skin, called jaundice
# a longer than usual amount of time for bleeding to stop
# swollen stomach or ankles
# easy bruising
# tiredness
# upset stomach
# fever
# loss of appetite
# diarrhea
# light-colored stools
# dark yellow urine

Hepatitis C is chronic when the body can’t get rid of the hepatitis C virus. Although some people clear the virus from their bodies in a few months, most hepatitis C infections become chronic. Without treatment, chronic hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver, called cirrhosis; liver cancer; and liver failure.

Your risk of hepatitis C infection is increased if you :
# Are a health care worker who has been exposed to infected blood
# Have ever injected illicit drugs
# Have HIV
# Received a piercing or tattoo in an unclean environment using unsterile equipment
# Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992
# Received clotting factor concentrates before 1987
# Received hemodialysis treatments for a long period of time
# Were born to a woman with a hepatitis C infection

About 20-30 per cent of people clear the virus from their bodies - but in about 75 per cent of cases, the infection lasts for more than six months (chronic hepatitis C). In these cases, the immune system has been unable to clear the virus and will remain in the body long term unless medical treatment is given. Most of these people have a mild form of the disease with intermittent symptoms of fatigue or no symptoms at all.
About one in five people with chronic hepatitis C develops cirrhosis of the liver within 20 years (some experts believe that, with time, everyone with chronic hepatitis C would develop cirrhosis but this could take many decades).

Hepatitis C virus is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. One common route is through sharing needles when injecting recreational drugs - nearly 40 per cent of intravenous drug users have the infection and around 35 per cent of people with the virus will have contracted it this way. Most people diagnosed with hepatitis C can identify at least one possible factor which may have put them at risk but for some, the likely origin of the infection isn't clear. Because it can remain hidden and symptomless for so many years, it may be very difficult to think back through the decades to how it might have begun.

You can protect yourself and others from hepatitis C if you :
# do not share drug needles
# wear gloves if you have to touch another person’s blood
# use a condom during sex
# do not borrow another person’s toothbrush, razor, or anything else that could have blood on it
# make sure any tattoos or body piercings you get are done with sterile tools
# do not donate blood or blood products if you have hepatitis C

If you think you could have been in contact with the Hepatitis C Virus at any point in the past, you can have a test to find out if you've been infected. Testing for hepatitis C infection in people who have a high risk of coming in contact with the virus may help doctors begin treatment or recommend lifestyle changes that may slow liver damage. This is recommended because hepatitis C infection often begins damaging the liver before it causes signs and symptoms.

A test is now available to identify antibody (proteins produced by the immune system in response to the virus) to HCV, which is present in approximately 50 percent of persons with early hepatitis C infections and in almost all with chronic Hepatitis C infections.

About Hepatitis B (HBV)

Hepatitis B is a liver disease. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is the painful, red swelling that results when tissues of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can cause organs to not work properly.

The virus is transmitted by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids such as semen and vaginal fluids, while viral DNA has been detected in the saliva, tears, and urine of chronic carriers. Perinatal infection is a major route of infection in endemic (mainly developing) countries.

The acute illness causes liver inflammation, vomiting, jaundice and, rarely, death. Chronic hepatitis B may eventually cause cirrhosis and liver cancer—a disease with poor response to all but a few current therapies. The infection is preventable by vaccination.

The Transmission
You could get hepatitis B through contact with an infected person’s blood, semen, or other body fluid.
You could also get hepatitis B:
- from being born to a mother with hepatitis B
- having sex with an infected person
- being tattooed or pierced with unsterilized tools that were used on an infected person
- getting an accidental needle stick with a needle that was used on an infected person
- using an infected person’s razor or toothbrush
- sharing drug needles with an infected person
- people who have had more than one sex partner in the last 6 months or have a history of sexually transmitted disease
- men who have sex with men
- people who have lived in parts of the world where hepatitis B is common
-  people on hemodialysis

You cannot get hepatitis B from:
- shaking hands with an infected person
- hugging an infected person
- sitting next to an infected person

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus either may be asymptomatic or may be associated with a chronic inflammation of the liver (chronic hepatitis), leading to cirrhosis over a period of several years. This type of infection dramatically increases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Chronic carriers are encouraged to avoid consuming alcohol as it increases their risk for cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis B virus has been linked to the development of Membranous glomerulonephritis.

If you are at higher risk of hepatitis B, get tested. Many people do not know they are infected. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent liver damage. The tests, called assays, for detection of hepatitis B virus infection involve serum or blood tests that detect either viral antigens (proteins produced by the virus) or antibodies produced by the host. The Home Bio Hepatitis B test is an easy to use, accurate and reliable assay that will detect antibodies to the hepatitis B virus present in whole blood, serum or plasma.

Gonorrhea, pregnancy & newborn

The CDC currently recommends that pregnant women who live in a community where the infection is relatively widespread, as well as those who are otherwise at risk for the infection, should be tested for gonorrhea at their first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester if they remain at risk.

Sexually active females younger than 25 are at highest risk. Other risk factors include prior gonorrhea infection, other STIs, onset of sexual activity at a young age, new or multiple sex partners, commercial sex work, inconsistent condom use, and substance abuse. Those who are nonwhite, unmarried, or of a low socioeconomic level are also at higher risk.

If you think there's any possibility that you might have contracted gonorrhea or any other STI, let your caregiver know and ask to be tested. You should also be tested (or retested) at any time during pregnancy if you or your partner develops any symptoms of gonorrhea, or if you contract another STI, because they're often found together.

To test for gonorrhea, your practitioner will swab your cervix and send the swab to the lab for analysis. Sometimes a urine specimen is used instead.

If your test is positive, you'll be treated immediately. And if you weren't tested for other STIs along with the gonorrhea test, you'll be tested for them now. You'll be retested for gonorrhea in two to three months (sooner if you have symptoms) to make sure you haven't been reinfected, and again in the third trimester.

Babies can get the infection during birth as they pass through the birth canal. In babies, gonorrhea can cause blindness, joint infection, or a life-threatening blood infection.


How does Gonorrhea affect pregnant women?
Infected women can pass gonorrhea to their newborn baby during delivery. If a baby catches gonorrhea during childbirth, they might have eye infections. When the infection occurs in the genital tract, mouth, or rectum of a child, it is due most commonly to sexual abuse.

Common Gonorrhea Q&A

What is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD). The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The gonorrhea bacterium can grow and multiply easily in warm, moist areas including the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, urethra, mouth, throat, eyes, and anus.

Any sexually active person, man or woman, can get gonorrhea – even if they have had gonorrhae and received treatment before.

How common is gonorrhea?
Gonorrhea is a very common STD in the U.S. The CDC estimates nearly a million new cases of gonorrhea each year. Because gonorrhea often doesn't show any signs or symptoms, many people are infected without even realizing it. You should get an STD test for gonorrhea if you suspect an infection. If you have any signs or symptoms, abstain from having any kind of sex and see your doctor immediately.

Who is at risk for gonorrhea?
Any sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea. In the United States, the highest reported rates of infection are among sexually active teenagers, young adults, and African Americans.

How can you get gonorrhea?

Gonorrhea can be passed from one person to another during any kind of sex or sexual activity, including vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth.

How is gonorrhea diagnosed?

Several tests are used to diagnose gonorrhea. Some can be performed on urine; other tests require a sample be collected from a site such as the cervix, urethra, rectum or throat.