Get tested.

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What’s an HIV test?
Who should get tested?
How do you get tested?
What do the test results mean?
Who sees the results?

1. What’s an HIV test?

It’s a test that tells you if you have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. People with HIV may have it for many years without knowing they are infected because they might not have symptoms. New drugs can help people with HIV stay healthy longer, but there is still no vaccine or cure for HIV. Getting tested for HIV is the only way to know for sure if you have the virus.

There are three good reasons to get an HIV Test:

If you are infected, you can get treatment that may help you live a longer, healthier life
If you are not infected, you can learn how to stay that way
The sooner you know your status, the better you will be able to protect yourself and others

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2. Who should get tested?

You should get tested if you’ve ever:

Shared needles or works to shoot drugs (even insulin or steroids)
Shared needles for piercing or tattooing
Had sex (oral, vaginal, or anal) without using a latex condom
Had a sexually transmitted disease (STD), including HIV, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, or chlamydia

You should get tested if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. A pregnant woman with HIV can pass HIV to her baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. There is medicine that can reduce the chance that a woman with HIV will pass it on to her baby. (back to top)

3. How do you get tested?

It's EASY:

You can get a blood test, or at some places, an oral HIV test or Rapid Test.
There are LOTS OF PLACES to get tested. Most clinics, local health departments and doctors test for HIV.
Some places give the test for FREE.
If you use injection drugs, use a clean needle. Never share drug paraphernalia such as needles, cookers, water glasses or cotton balls. Needle exchanges allow users to swap used needles for new ones.
Go to a professional for tattoos and piercings. Make sure they sterilize equipment between customers or use disposable needles and ink dispensers. Avoid piercing guns because they can’t be properly sterilized. Always ask your tattoo artist how they sterilize their tattoo equipment.
Pregnancy. If you’re pregnant and HIV positive, or think you’ve been exposed to HIV, see your doctor immediately. There are drugs a mother can take to reduce the chance of passing on HIV to her unborn child.
While all this may seem like common sense, common sense doesn’t always rule when you’re under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Stay cool. And before you do the wrong thing, think about what you have to lose.

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4. What do the test results mean?

A negative result means no antibodies were found in your body. If you are negative, testing counselors can talk to you about ways to reduce your risk for contracting HIV in the future.

You still could be infected if you have been exposed to HIV in the last six months. Your body may not have made enough HIV antibodies to show up yet. Consider getting retested in a few months.
You’re not immune. You still can become infected.

A positive result means your body is making HIV antibodies – you have HIV. This doesn’t mean you have AIDS or will get sick. If you are positive, you deserve to know. Detection and treatment of HIV can help you live a longer, healthier life. So the sooner you get tested, the sooner you can start taking care of yourself. (back to top)

5. Who sees the results?