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HIV Testing

Contents:

Why Get Tested?
New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone from ages 13-64 get an HIV test at least once as a part of routine medical care. If you have higher-risk behavior, you should get tested at least annually. Getting tested can be an empowering experience, regardless of the results. If you test negative, it can ease your anxiety and give you even more motivation to keep your risk low. If you test positive, this is helpful to know now rather than later, both in terms of your own health and in decreasing your risk of transmitting the virus to others.

About HIV Testing
The HIV test looks for antibodies to HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), rather than the virus itself.

If you get a NEGATIVE test result:

  • You are not infected with HIV, assuming your most recent possible exposure was more than six months ago.
  • Otherwise, you should get retested six months after your last possible exposure, because it can take that long for you to test positive.
  • Make sure you avoid future exposure by practicing safer sex (such as always using condoms) and never sharing needles.

If you get a confirmed POSITIVE test result:

  • You are infected with HIV, and could transmit the virus to others.
  • However, you do not necessarily have AIDS – only an experienced clinician can make this diagnosis.
  • Make an appointment for a full medical exam. Be sure to discuss with your provider how to stay healthy and whether anti-HIV medications would be advisable.
  • Also, do whatever you can to avoid future transmission by practicing safer sex (such as always using condoms) and never sharing needles or donating blood.
  • HIV can also be transmitted to an infant during pregnancy and birth, so talk to your clinician if you are pregnant or might become pregnant. There are ways to reduce the risk of transmission to your baby


HIV Services at the Tang Center

Other Testing Sites

HIV testing at the Tang Center is confidential, which means that your test results go into your confidential medical record. Medical records cannot be released without your permission, and HIV results have additional legal protections ensuring their confidentiality. However, some people prefer to get an anonymous HIV test, which allows them to be identified only by a special code number without ever using their name.

For anonymous HIV testing, or if you have additional questions about HIV/AIDS, please visit http://www.aidshotline.org or call 1-800-367-AIDS. Be aware that services listed may change.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is not intended to diagnose, treat or provide a second opinion on any health problem or disease. It is meant to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between an individual and his/her clinician.

Last revised: September, 2009

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