How Long Does a HIV Test Take?

Overview

Maintaining a healthy body includes ensuring that you aren't at risk for any sexually transmitted diseases. Those who receive a positive HIV test should seek medical assistance immediately to manage the disease and increase their chances of survival and a normal life. HIV test results are a critical component of your health care.

Types

You can arrange for a test at a testing center, at your doctor's office or by using a home kit. With a home kit, you collect a sample, mail it in and call in for results. AIDS.org does not recommend a home test. Should you receive a positive result, you won't have access to the counseling and medical information that will aid your future choices.

Time Frame

Test results are typically available about one or two weeks after the sample has been taken. AIDS.org recommends receiving your results face to face with an individual who can provide comprehensive information about HIV and AIDS. They also recommend that you bring a friend who can provide support or celebrate with you, depending on the result.
There are also tests that can provide results within an hour or two. However, AIDS.org notes that these tests can be inconclusive. In this case, you'll still need to wait a week to two weeks for conclusive results.

Misconceptions

A negative result is not always final. AIDS.org notes that it can take up to six months for the HIV virus to manifest, so unless you've used safe sexual practices and avoided sharing needles or other risk factors for six months prior to the test, the HIV antibody may still be present. Retesting is recommended. Also, a negative result does not mean you are immune to HIV.

Potential

An HIV test does provide results for approximately 96 percent of individuals within two to 12 weeks of exposure to HIV, according to AIDS.org. However, since the virus can take six months to manifest, you need to be tested again if you have engaged in risky behavior even if you have received a negative result at, say, three months.

Privacy

Your results are completely anonymous if you choose to have anonymous testing. This means that your name is never associated with the test result. You receive a number and use that number to receive your results. You can choose confidential testing, which means that your name may be associated with your test result in some cases, with a guarantee of confidentiality. AIDS.org recommends the use of anonymous testing and includes a listing of facilities that provide this service.