Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I take this test?
If you are HIV negative, this test will indicate if you have fewer CCR5 receptors than the average person, making it less likely for you to become infected with HIV if you are exposed to it.
If you are HIV Positive, this test will indicate if you are likely to progress slower to AIDS than the average person.
What do the results mean?
Our results indicate if you are homozygous, heterozygous, or wildtype for the CCR5 mutation. These mutations provide an indication of probable rates of infection and progression but we are only testing for a mutation. We do not tell if you are immune to HIV.
Are my results private?
Your privacy is of paramount importance to us. Your results and personal information will not be disclosed. Please see our terms and privacy policy for more information.
What do heterozygous and homozygous mean?
Everyone has two copies of every gene. Heterozygous means you have one copy of the normal gene and one copy of the gene with the mutation. People who are heterozygous inherited the mutation from only one parent. Homozygous means both copies of the gene are the same; either both are normal or both contain the mutation. This means the person inherited the mutation from both parents.
How accurate is the test?
Our testing methods ensure greater than 99.98% accuracy given a valid sample. All samples are retested to eliminate the possibility of false positives and ensure the greatest possible accuracy.
If I have the CCR5 delta 32 mutation can I have unprotected sex?
Unprotected sex is a bad decision, regardless of whether you have CCR5 delta 32 or not. You should always use protection.
How many people have the CCR5 Delta 32 gene?
The CCR5 Delta 32 gene is most prominent in individuals of European descent.
This is the percentage of CCR5 delta 32 in different ethnic populations:*
European Descent: 16%
African Americans: 2%
Ashkenazi Jew: 13%
Middle Eastern: 2-6%
*Fernando Arenzana-Seisdedos, Marc Parmentier b. Genetics of resistance to HIV infection: Role of co-receptors and co-receptor ligands. Semin Immunol. 2006 Dec;18(6):387-403
*Martinson. J, et al, Global Distribution of the CCR5 gene 32-basepair deletion Nat Genet. 1997 May;16(1):100-3
*Martinson, Jeremy J.; Hong, Lilya; Karanicolas, Rosea; Moore, John P. a; Kostrikis, Leondios G.a Global distribution of the CCR2-64I/CCR5-59653T HIV-1 disease-protective haplotype AIDS. 2000 March;14(5): 483-489
