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Getting Tested for HIV
by Lisa, 12.01.98
Deciding to be tested for HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS, is a big decision. It can bring up a lot of questions and fears. Even if you haven't been involved in frequent high-risk behaviors, making the choice to be tested can be difficult. If you're thinking about getting tested for HIV, you should do a little preparation first — learn what to expect and consider your options.
Choosing to Be Tested
There are a lot of reasons that people get tested for HIV. Maybe you're sexually active and have engaged in risky behavior. Maybe you're in a new relationship and have decided to be tested together. Maybe you're pregnant. The reasons vary from person to person.
In the end, though, it's an important way to take responsibility for your life. Finding out that you're negative can be a huge relief. And if you're positive ... well ... the earlier you know, the better treatment works and the healthier you can stay.
Who Should Get Tested?
The guidelines are pretty simple: If you've had unprotected sex or have engaged in high-risk behaviors with anyone whose sexual history you don't know for sure, or if you or any sex partner have used I.V. drugs (including steroids), or if you are pregnant, you should strongly consider getting tested.
The Difference Between "Anonymous" and "Confidential"
Because people are still sometimes discriminated against for being HIV-positive, it is important that you have control over who knows about your HIV status. You may not want to go to your regular doctor or clinic for the test unless you are certain of and comfortable with their policies regarding confidentiality.
In most states you can find clinics that offer "anonymous" or "confidential" HIV tests. It's important to know the difference between those two terms when you choose a clinic for the test.
"Confidential" means that your name and other identifying information is attached to your test results, but it is kept private, just as most medical records are.
In "anonymous" testing, on the other hand, your name is never used — just an ID number. That number is attached to your test results. You get your results by matching the number, and usually the results aren't written down for you — they just tell you either over the phone or in person. With anonymous testing policies, you get to decide who to tell and when.
"Anonymous" testing is not available in some states, so when you schedule an appointment, ask if it is available in your state.
What Happens During an HIV Test?
When you go for an HIV test, your clinician takes a sample of blood, urine, or saliva. The sample will be tested for HIV antibodies — your body's response to HIV infection. Your clinician should be able to tell you when you can expect your results and whether you need to come back in to the clinic to get them or if you can get them over the telephone. Some testing sites offer rapid testing that can provide results in less than an hour. Or, it may take a week or two. If possible, you should return to the clinic to hear the results in person.
During anonymous testing, most clinics ask you to fill out an anonymous questionnaire to help you think about your history and how you can avoid risk in the future. For the test itself, you will get an ID code, which will be used to match you up with your test results. (Your name is never associated with results.) At the second appointment, usually about a week later, another counselor will match your number with the corresponding test and tell you the result.
Whether you test positive or negative, a counselor at the clinic can help you deal with the outcome. He or she can also answer your questions about safer sex and help you devise a plan for making future choices. You can get information on other sexually transmitted infections and birth control, and sometimes, you can get free condoms.
Bringing a friend can help.
It's pretty common to be nervous or scared when you go to get your results. Some people like to bring a friend when they go to find out their results. Although most clinics ask you to meet with the counselor one-on-one, it can help to know that someone you trust is waiting for you. Others make a pact with a friend or two, and all get tested together.
Deciding to get tested can be difficult.
For a lot of people, getting tested can bring up tough questions. Some people might be uncomfortable discussing sex, or admitting to themselves or others that they're sexually active. In a relationship, discussing safer sex can bring up issues of trust or shame, or lead you to talk about uncomfortable or embarrassing subjects.
It's easy to think that it won't happen to you, or even to think that it's inevitable. In either case, you can be left wondering, "What does it matter?"
Well, it does matter. There are new treatments available. But you have to get tested to know where you stand.
What About Home Testing?
Recently, several home tests have appeared on the market, costing about $50 at a pharmacy. The package contains an anonymous test number and a simple blood test (you prick your finger and mail in the sample).
Several days later, you call the company's phone number and give your code to a counselor on the other end. If you test positive, the counselor will discuss options for counseling and treatment, and recommend resources in your area.
If you can, though, many HIV counselors recommend that you get tested in a clinic. Being there face-to-face helps you get the support you may need if your result is positive, and even if you're negative the counselor can give you the most current information about how to stay negative in the future.
What If You Test Positive?
If you test positive for HIV (meaning you have HIV in your blood), the sooner you can get treatment, the better. With the newest drugs, many HIV-positive people are living for many years without developing AIDS — but the odds are better the earlier you get treatment. Knowing if you're positive can also help you act responsibly and protect your sexual partners.
If you test positive, the counselor who gives you your results will tell you where to go in your area for more help, support, and information.
And If You're Negative?
Congratulations! Round one is over. If you've had unprotected sex in the three months before getting tested, though, you will need to get a follow-up test to be sure you're not infected. It can take some time after infection for antibodies to show up. For the majority of people, testing will be accurate at four to six weeks after possible infection. However, for some people it may take longer — up to three months — for detectable antibodies to develop.
Testing negative is a relief — and if you haven't been practicing safer sex, it's a second chance. Your counselor can answer any questions you have about HIV and other STIs, and help you decide how you want to approach safer sex in the future.
To find out where you can get tested, call 1-800-230-PLAN.
Updated March 14, 2005. |
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