Comprehensive Guide to HIV Testing

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Think about this: if you got a negative HIV test at six weeks, would you believe it? Would it make you less anxious? If so, go for it. But to be certain, you will need to be tested again for HIV at six months.

Periodic HIV Testing:

• Many people continue to engage in some degree of risky behavior, and choose to be tested for HIV periodically (every six months, every year, or every other year.)

  Since the window period for developing a positive test result can be as long as six months, it would rarely make sense to be tested more often than this.

  There are clear benefits to early medical attention for infection with the HIV virus. There is little agreement on how early this must be. But if you wait longer than two years, treatment of the disease may be less effective.
   

• If you are beyond the six month window period from a possible HIV transmission event and were reported HIV negative by an accurate HIV test (and you are not subsequently put at risk for HIV), you can consider yourself HIV negative. There is no need to retest. However if it eases your anxiety, you may wish to take the test again periodically.

What About My Privacy? Confidential or Anonymous.

Anonymous testing means that absolutely no one has access to your test results since your name is never recorded at the test site. Confidential testing sometimes means identifying yourself in some manner to the test site, with their assurance that this information will remain private.

Anonymous test sites are highly recommended because:

• The quality of the education and counseling that is provided is very good.
• The testing is usually free.
• The testing is reliable and automatically includes confirming tests.
• It protects you from risks of discrimination or adverse impact, especially in applications for insurance.
• Sometimes even taking an HIV test, regardless of the result, might cause an insurance application to be refused.

Anonymous HIV testing sites never give written results. Some sites who do anonymous testing also do confidential testing, which may also include written results. At least 11 states do not currently provide anonymous testing.

Where Can I Get Tested for HIV?

You can arrange for HIV testing at an established testing center, or at your doctor's office. Test results are usually available within one to two weeks. Home test kits allow you to mail in a sample, and receive your results sometime later via telephone.

HIV Testing Centers

Click here for NATIONAL HIV TESTING LOCATIONS

If you would like to talk to someone and have any questions, you can contact the

CDC National AIDS Hotline
at (800) 342-2437
(24 hrs/day, 365 days/year)

Home HIV Testing - Is It For Me?

Problems with Home Testing

• Getting test results over the phone can be very difficult, especially if the test is positive. A person can just hang up and never hear all the counseling and information they need to hear. Test counseling is best done face-to-face, and is most effective this way.
• If someone sees you purchase the test, finds the packaging in the garbage, or sees your test ID card, then your confidentiality may be compromised.
• Home testing is more expensive than going to the local health department. Testing through local health departments, and some private agencies, is free or low-cost. Home HIV test kits can cost up to $50.
• Another issue to be dealt with is confidentiality. If a person buys a home test kit in a store, everyone in the store will know that the person is taking an HIV test. Another option would be to purchase the kits by phone or through the Internet.
• When you order the tests (by phone or via the Internet), you must give your name and address. When you order by credit card, the charge for the test will appear on your credit card statement. Although your name is not linked to your test results, people who see your credit card statement may find out that you're being tested.
• When taking a test at home, after you're finished taking the test, all the packaging from the kit has to be well hidden in the garbage. If a garbage man empties your garbage, and sees the test kit packaging, they'll know you took an HIV test. Also, if your garbage gets ripped open by animals, or if the garbage can gets blown open by the wind (and gets blown all over your neighborhood), your neighbors can also know you've been tested. So for people taking the home test, I say "hide your garbage!"

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Last updated: 10/05

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