ACT : AIDS Committee of Toronto

ACT : AIDS Committee of Toronto ACT : For nearly as long as HIV has been in Toronto, ACT has been here to help. Formed by a small group of community activists during the summer of 1983 as the AIDS Committee of Toronto, ACT was a response to the hysteria surrounding an unknown illness. Little was known about AIDS at the time, but a terrible stigma was attached to those who had it, and nothing was being done to help them.

Since then, ACT has grown to be Canada’s largest HIV service organization, benefiting from the devotion of its accomplished staff, thousands of committed volunteers and the many, many thousands of people living with HIV who have and continue to form the backbone of the ACT community.

What types of HIV tests are conducted?
ACT provides three different types of HIV tests…
The Rapid Test (most common)

Blood is drawn from a finger prick
Results in seconds
This test detects HIV antibodies, produced by the immune system as a defensive response to HIV
Effective 4 weeks after a possible infection
The Standard Test

Blood is drawn directly from the vein (usually from the arm)
Results in 5-7 days
This test detects HIV antibodies, produced by the immune system as a defensive response to HIV
Effective 4 weeks after a possible infection
This test is used to conduct a confirmatory HIV test. If the Rapid Test result is reactive (when HIV antibodies are detected in the blood), an additional blood sample is collected to confirm the Rapid Test results.
The P24 Antigen Test

Blood is drawn directly from the vein (usually from the arm)
Results in 5-7 days
This test detects the p24 antigen, a protein found in blood serum shortly after HIV transmission. The p24 antigen is produced by the immune system as a defensive response to HIV.
Effective 2-4 weeks after a possible infection