How to Understand HIV Testing

There are several options available to you when testing for HIV, including private and public clinic testing and home kit testing. (Kits can be ordered at a pharmacy or by mail or e-mail.) Finding testing sites can be as simple as checking your yellow pages; choosing one depends on several factors.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• HIV/AIDS Research Support Products
• HIV Home Tests
• AIDS/HIV Related Videos

1. Decide if you'd like your testing to be confidential (results become part of your medical records and your insurance company is informed) or anonymous (your insurance company is not notified).
2. Understand that public and private clinics offer confidential and anonymous testing, while home tests are completely anonymous - simply send a numerically assigned blood sample to a testing site and access the results by phone.
3. Weigh the costs of HIV testing. Public clinics provide HIV testing for free. Home kit testing costs less than testing at a private clinic, where testing can cost from $50 to $100.
4. Take into the account the level of support you would like to receive once you obtain your test results. Home kit testing only offers telephone support after you call in for your results, while clinics can explain test results and provide counseling in person.
5. Consider the accuracy of the tests. Home kit testing, in which you prick your finger with a lancet and take a drop of blood on special filter paper, may not be as specific as the antibody blood tests given at clinics.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide to get tested at a public or private clinic, look for clinics that are specific to HIV testing. They provide a network of resources and support systems for HIV testing and HIV patients.
• Find a loved one to lean on at this time - knowing you have emotional support can make all the difference.
• If you think you have been infected within the past few months, a typical HIV test may not be able to detect the virus. Clinics can provide tests specific to this situation.