What is the difference between HIV-1 and HIV-2?

• HIV-1: Most common—accounts for 95% of infections worldwide, higher transmission risk, progresses more quickly to AIDS
• HIV-2: Less common—found mainly in West Africa, lower transmission risk, progresses more slowly to AIDS
• Both can be effectively treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which helps make the virus undetectable & untransmittable.
• If you receive a positive result from our test kit, you are positive for either HIV-1 or HIV-2, but our test cannot tell which virus you have.
• Follow-up testing is strongly recommended to confirm your result and identify which type of HIV is present, as part of standard medical care.