THIVK

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when did you last test?

“Is it true testing’s never been easier?”

HIV tests have changed. New tests can detect an infection much sooner. There’s no need to wait three months between taking a risk and testing. Clinics are happy to test you at any time. An infection can be picked up after a few weeks. Clinic staff will tell you how soon after your last risk they can test you.

You no longer need to wait a week or two for results. It’s possible in many testing centres to have a ‘rapid HIV test’ which gives results in around 20 minutes.

You can test in special ‘rapid test’ clinics (eg, Terrence Higgins Trust’s Fastest centres). Or you can test in regular sexual health clinics, doctor’s surgeries, some HIV organisations, even in some gay saunas and bars in some parts of the country. Testing has never been easier.

To find out which testing services (including rapid testing) are near you search here (clinic finder)... . Or call THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200 or contact the organisations listed here.

“Testing takes too long”

In ‘rapid test’ centres (eg, THT’s Fastest clinics) it takes about 20 minutes to test and get your result. From arriving at the clinic to leaving with your result takes under an hour.
Most big cities and many towns have rapid test services. You may need to make an appointment. Many are open early evenings.

Some sexual health clinics offer ‘same-day testing’ where you come back for your result later that day.

If you test during a routine check-up at a sexual health clinic the result is usually back within a week.

To find out which testing services (including rapid testing) are near you search here... . Or call THT Direct on 0845 12 21 200 or contact the organisations listed here.

“I must wait three months after unsafe sex before testing”

No longer true. HIV tests today can detect infections after a few weeks. A clinic will be happy to test you at any time. Clinic staff can talk over with you how soon after a risk they’ll test you. If you’ve taken a risk in the last month or two a clinic should be happy to test you straight away, so long as you test again a few weeks later. This will make sure the first negative test didn’t miss a recent infection.

Important to remember:

Want to know if you do have HIV?

No need to wait three months since your last risk. Clinics are happy to test you at any time.

Want to be certain you don’t have HIV?

A three month wait since your last risk is still recommended — or you can test sooner, then have a second test a few weeks later. This is because very rarely it can take up to three months for a test to give a positive result. If you’ve been infected recently it’s sometimes possible to get a negative result when in fact you have HIV but signs of the infection aren’t yet showing in your blood.

“All HIV tests are the same”

Not quite. The tests used most now are:

  1. the HIV antibody test and
  2. the ‘HIV antibody and antigen’ test (also known as a ‘duo test’)

This second test is better at showing if you’ve picked up HIV very recently (in the last month or so). Many clinics now use this ‘antibody and antigen’ test. Some places still use the old antibody only test. Tell the clinic when you last took a risk of getting HIV. They can then talk to you about how this impacts on the test they use.

The antibody test

This test was used for many years and is still used in some clinics. It doesn’t look for HIV itself but for ‘antibodies’ to HIV. Antibodies are made by the body when it comes across a virus. Most people make antibodies to HIV within 4-6 weeks.

The ‘antibody and antigen’ test

This new test works like the antibody test but it doesn’t just look for ‘antibody’ to HIV; it also looks for ‘antigen’. Antigen is a part of the HIV virus itself and it can be found a week or so earlier than antibodies. So when looking for an HIV infection that’s happened recently (in the last month or so) this test detects it sooner than the old antibody test.

Does it matter which test I take?

It only makes a difference if your most recent risk of getting HIV was in the last month or two. If it was, you’re better having the test that looks for both antigen and antibody (if that test is available). You could have the test that only looks for antibody but you’ll be advised to test again a few weeks later. This is to make sure the first test didn’t miss a recent infection.

In fact, if your risk was in the last month or two you’ll be advised to test again within a few weeks whatever test you take. Tell the clinic when your last risk was. They’ll advise you on how this might impact on the test they use and whether you need to test again a few weeks later.

“Testing means problems with mortgages or life insurance”

This has not been true since 1994. Finance industry guidelines say companies selling life insurance and mortgages should not ask if you’ve ever tested for HIV or tested negative (or if you’re gay). They will ask if you’ve tested HIV positive. If so, they’re likely to turn you down. You must declare any medical condition, including having HIV, when applying. If you get financial services after hiding such information your insurance, mortgage etc will be invalid.

Only with your permission can companies ask your GP (family doctor) about your medical history. If you say no, your application for financial services will be rejected. Guidelines say companies should not ask your doctor whether you’re gay or if you’ve ever had an HIV test. They can ask if you’ve had a positive HIV test result and if you’ve had hepatitis or tests or treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

People with HIV can get financial services from some companies, but they’ll usually pay more. There are mortgages available without life insurance from specialist insurers. Life insurance for people with HIV is being offered now by one major insurer.

For more help with HIV tests and financial services, call THT Direct on 0845 1221 200.

“If I test positive my details go on an official list”

No government department (or anyone else) keeps a list of people with HIV. By law HIV tests at sexual clinics are confidential. Results can’t even be shared between different parts of the same hospital unless you say so. Test positive at a sexual health clinic and no-one is told unless you give your permission; not your family, partner, employer, family doctor, dentist, etc. If confidentiality is your concern, nowhere is more confidential than a sexual health clinic. You don’t even have to give your real name.

Family doctors should also follow guidelines about keeping your HIV status confidential but some people prefer not to test at their GP in case other surgery staff see their result in their notes, etc.

“I can’t test. I hate needles”

You don’t need to have blood taken from your arm if you use rapid HIV testing services. They use finger prick tests. No big needle, no syringe of blood, just a tiny, painless prick on your finger. And with these tests your result is ready in 20 minutes.