HIV Testing Information

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If you think you may be at risk for HIV, but are not sure, you should take the HIV risk assessment.  You should NEVER use HIV testing as a means of preventing HIV.  Always protect yourself when engaging in behavior that could result in HIV infection. 

If you have engaged in any behavior that can transmit HIV it is very important that you seek counseling and testing for HIV.   To determine if someone has HIV, a lab test is performed which will identify HIV antibodies in the blood. This test will not tell you if you have been exposed to HIV, only if your body could be responding to HIV infection.  Testing and counseling is especially recommended for the following groups of people:

• People who have had unprotected anal, oral or vaginal sex.
• Pregnant women and women who plan to become pregnant.
• Sexual partners of injection drug users.
• Sexual partners of men who have sex with other men.
• Persons who have been incarcerated for more than 24 hours.
• Sexual partners of persons who have been incarcerated for more than 24 hours.
• Persons who have shared needles to inject any substance into their body.
• Persons who have sexually-transmitted diseases or infections or who have been sexually abused.
• Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C patients.
• hemophiliacs
• the sex partners of hemophiliacs
  
• Patients who received blood transfusions or other blood products between 1978 and 1985.
• Those who consider themselves to be at risk for HIV infection.

DCAP offers confidential testing services.  For more information about HIV testing, please read our brochure: The Reader’s Digest Version: HIV Testing. If you choose to get tested through DCAP, you may find this insider's guide to HIV testing useful for preparing for the test.

A POSITIVE test result means that HIV antibodies were possibly present in the sample provided. With all HIV testing, it is recommended that if you receive a positive test result, you test again as soon as possible to confirm the result. 

A NEGATIVE test result means that there were no antibodies present in the sample taken, although, depending on when the person was exposed to the virus in relation to testing, the result may still be positive. 

And the final possible result is INDETERMINANT, which basically means that there was a problem with the test, and the person should be tested again.  Knowing your status is the first step to seeking medical attention and gaining access to effective treatment that can prolong your life and delay the onset of AIDS.  Although HIV tests are over ninety-nine percent (99%) accurate, an individual needs to get a confirmatory test after receiving just one positive HIV test. 

Another thing you should consider when getting an HIV test is the "window period".  The "window period" refers to the amount of time it could take for a person to produce enough antibodies to appear on the HIV test afer a possible exposure.  It can take as long as three months from the time someone becomes infected until the time that there are enough antibodies to appear in a test.  Therefore, if you are considering getting an HIV test, you should know that your test results may not be accurate if you have put yourself at risk within three months before taking a test.  Your test counselor will talk with you more about the window period when you schedule your appointment.

For more information about other sexually transmitted diseases/infections, please click here.