Testing

It's simple enough: a small finger prick or a quick mouth swab, and minutes later you know your HIV status.  Knowing your status is critical to your health and the well-being of our entire community. 

If you're negative and you know it, you can continue to take the steps to protect yourself from HIV infection. 

If you're positive and you don't know it, you could be getting sicker and risking the health of your partners.  Finding out you're positive means you can start getting the treatment you need right away to improve your health. 

Still have questions?  We've got answers...

WHY SHOULD I GET TESTED FOR HIV?
• To get into care and lower your risk of infecting anyone else, if you find out you have HIV
• To better protect yourself and your partner
• To take care of yourself and your community

WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR HIV?
Everyone between ages 13 and 64, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We recommend that sexually-active men who have sex with men get tested for HIV every 6 months; more often for those who have higher-risk activities.

Higher risk activities include:
• Unprotected (bare) anal sex with multiple sex partners when you don't know their status, or know that they're positive
• Use methamphetamines and/or inject drugs
• Use drugs during sex

IS AN HIV TEST PART OF MY ROUTINE PHYSICAL?
Even though HIV testing is recommended as part of routine medical care, many doctors do not offer testing for HIV (or other STDs) unless you ask to be tested for them. Ask your doctor if they include STD tests in your regular blood tests.

Magnet, the foundation's community health clinic in the Castro, offers rapid HIV testing with results available in 20 minutes.  SFHIV.org lists other rapid testing sites in the San Francisco area. HIVtest.org is run by the CDC and lists testing sites nationwide.

WHAT KINDS OF TESTS ARE AVAILABLE?
There are several different types of HIV tests. Most San Francisco testing sites offer what are called 'rapid HIV tests'.  These tests use a small sample of blood, either from a finger-stick or a blood draw from your inner arm, to test for HIV antibodies.

HOW DOES AN HIV TEST FIND HIV?
Most HIV tests check for antibodies that the body produces once infected with HIV. Antibodies are proteins that the immune system makes to fight off all different kinds of infections, including HIV. If an HIV test detects HIV antibodies, a person is infected with HIV. If antibodies are not present, a person is likely not HIV infected.

CAN THE TEST TELL IF AN INFECTION HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?
No. There's a period of time after a person is infected during which they won't test positive.  This is called the “hiv window period,” and can be from 2 weeks to 3-6 months  - during which someone could test HIV negative even though they're HIV infected. 

HIV can still be transmitted during the window period. Your partners can still be infected by you during this testing window period - if you suspect that you've been exposed recently, make that very clear to the HIV test counselor.

HOW MUCH DOES AN HIV TEST COST?
At Magnet, our gay men's health clinic in San Francisco, we offer free HIV testing. 

The cost of HIV testing varies at other testing locations. There are community clinics that offer free HIV tests, or request a sliding scale payment. Also, the cost of an HIV test may be covered by health insurance, if you have it. Call ahead to your doctor or local clinic to find out how much they charge for HIV tests, or to your health insurance provider to see if the test is covered.

WHO HAS ACCESS TO MY RESULTS?
Your HIV test results are confidential, just like other health information. The results will be included in your medical record. If you test positive for HIV, your result will also be shared with your state’s health department for purposes of monitoring trends in the HIV epidemic. Strict rules prevent your health department from disclosing HIV-related information outside the health department.

Also, if you do test positive, it is very important for you to work closely with your doctor or nurse practitioner to get the care and treatment you need.

I TESTED NEGATIVE, NOW WHAT?
Keep in mind that there is a "window period" between when you get infected and when a test will show that you are positive (see the question above).

The most important thing to do if you test negative is to stay negative. Ways to stay negative:
• Use condoms each and every time you have sex
• Get tested regularly
• Talk to your partners about HIV and ask that they get tested with you
• If you use needles, don’t share them

You want to make sure that your sexual partners know you’re watching out for their health and yours. Talking about HIV status with partners can help you make informed decisions about your sexual activity and how to better protect yourself and your partner.

WHAT IF I TEST POSITIVE FOR HIV?
With the availability of treatments today, you can lead a long and healthy life as an HIV-positive person.

The most important thing to do if you test positive is to get connected with services and support as soon as possible. Advances in HIV treatment are occurring all the time, and medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well much longer than in the early years of the epidemic. But, the longer you wait after testing positive to see a health care provider, the greater your chance of developing serious health problems.

If you’ve tested positive, here are some important steps to take to protect your health:

1. See a doctor, even if you don’t feel sick. If possible, see a health care provider who has experience treating HIV. Consulting someone about your treatment options is the first step towards staying healthy. If you don’t have health insurance or don’t have access to a health care provider, contact your local AIDS organization or health clinic in your area to inquire about health services that may be available to people living with HIV/AIDS for free or discounted rates.

2. Find a support system. The emotional and physical challenges ahead can be difficult, and having people around to help is important. Ask your doctor about counselors and support groups that can help you.

3. Talk with your partner(s). Tell your sexual partner/s about your HIV status and make sure you reduce the possibility of transmitting the virus by practicing safer sex, including using latex condoms or dental dams each and every time you have oral or anal sex.

4. If you begin taking HIV treatment, be careful to take them exactly as prescribed. That’s the best way to ensure getting the maximum benefit from the medications for the longest possible time.

I THINK I’M HIV POSITIVE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Some people who become infected with HIV begin exhibiting symptoms of new infection within a few days or weeks of exposure.  Others will have no symptoms. When symptoms are present – which may include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and night sweats – they can be hard to distinguish between other common conditions, such as the flu.

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, discuss this with a health care provider - your doctor or . Knowing whether you’re HIV positive as soon as possible is important – both to prevent exposing others and also to make timely decisions about HIV treatment. Since many people who are HIV infected do not know it – some for years – it’s important to get tested regularly.

Testing is the only sure way to know if you are HIV positive. If you are HIV positive, early diagnosis and treatment is critical to your health. Delaying finding out does not help you – or those you love.

WHERE CAN I GET TESTED?
If you live in San Francisco, you may get tested at Magnet, our clinic providing free sexual health services for gay men in the heart of the Castro.  San Francisco AIDS Foundation also offers testing at two locations in the South of Market neighborhood.  For more information, call client services at (415) 487-8000.

If you have a regular doctor or clinic, he or she can do any of these tests. If you prefer to go to a facility specializing in HIV testing, you can find a test site near you at SFHIV.org for San Francisco testing locations or at HIVTest.org for testing locations nationwide.

REFERENCES

• Kaiser Family Foundation, Greater Than AIDS, http://www.greaterthan.org/get-tested.
• San Francisco Department of Public Health,  AIDS Office, HIV Prevention Section, www.sfhiv.org.