HIV stands for the human immunodeficiency virus, which is the virus that causes AIDS. It affects the body's immune system and eventually depletes the body's ability to fight off infections. HIV is spread via body fluids, such as blood and those produced during sex. HIV testing is important for people who think they may be positive so that they can avoid infecting others.
Step 1
Make an appointment with your doctor or contact your local health clinic to see if they allow walk-ins. Because knowing your HIV status is important not just for your own health but for your loved ones and the people around you, it is widely available from most physicians, clinics and hospitals.
Step 2
Decide what type of HIV test you want. Depending on where you go, you may have a variety of options. According to the Mayo Clinic, rapid tests can give you results in 20 minutes and can use a blood sample from a finger stick or your saliva. But they are typically less accurate. In some cases, a urine or saliva sample can be sent to a laboratory to test for antibodies to HIV. Antibodies for HIV can also be detected from a blood sample.
Step 3
Wait for the results. If you get the rapid test, your doctor will be able to help you interpret the results. Otherwise, you will receive the results of your test over the phone or via mail.
Step 4
If you have a positive test, get a "confirmation" test done. According to HIV.org, HIV tests, especially the screening ones that you will initially get, are not perfect, which means that sometimes they give a "false positive". This means that you will get a positive result even though you are not HIV-positive. This is why if you get a positive result, you need to get a second test done to confirm your initial positive result. The confirmation test is more accurate and almost never generates a false positive.
Step 5
If you get a negative result, consider getting another test in 3 months. Most HIV tests try to detect antibodies to HIV, which the immune system produces when you are infected with HIV. However, it can take up to 3 months for the antibodies to appear after infection, so sometimes people who are HIV-positive will test negative during this time.
