Where is hiv tested

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. HIV Testing. Minus Related Pages. Background An estimated 1. HIV Surveillance Report ; HIV transmission along the continuum of care—United States, MMWR ;68 11 ; MMWR ;67 24 ; HIV infection, risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among persons who inject drugs—national HIV behavioral surveillance: injection drug use, 23 U.

HIV infection, risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among men who have sex with men—national HIV behavioral surveillance, 23 U. Human immunodeficiency virus testing and diagnosis delays—United States, MMWR ; 66 47 ; Recommendations for HIV screening of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men—United States, MMWR ;66 31 ; Revised recommendations for HIV testing of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health-care settings.

What is it used for? Why do I need an HIV test? HIV is mainly spread through sexual contact and blood, so you may be at a higher risk for HIV if you: Are a man that has had sex with another man Have had sex with an HIV-infected partner Have had multiple sex partners Have injected drugs, such as heroin , or shared drug needles with someone else HIV can spread from mother to child during birth and through breast milk, so if you are pregnant your doctor may order an HIV test.

What happens during an HIV test? You will either get a blood test in a lab, or do your own test at home. For a blood test in a lab: A health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle.

After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.

The test kit will provide instructions on how to get your sample, package it, and send it to a lab. For a saliva test, you will use special spatula-like tool to take a swab from your mouth. For a fingertip antibody blood test, you will use a special tool to prick your finger and collect a sample of blood. For more information on at-home testing, talk to your health care provider. Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

Are there any risks to the test? What do the results mean? Rockville MD : U. Atlanta: U. Washington D. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; c— There are also home sampling and home testing kits you can use if you do not want to visit any of these places.

Call a sexual health clinic if you need help or advice. Only go to a clinic if you've been told to. Find sexual health clinic contact details. If the test finds no sign of infection, your result is "negative". If signs of infection are found, the result is "positive".

The blood test is the most accurate test and can normally give reliable results from 1 month after infection. The other tests tend to be less accurate and may not give a reliable result for a longer period after exposure to the infection. This is known as the window period.