HIV testing: What tests and when to get tested

You may be thinking about getting tested for HIV for any number of reasons. Perhaps you've been exposed to someone's blood or had unprotected sex. Or maybe you just want to make sure. If you're considering HIV testing, you might be feeling some anxiety about it. Knowing what to expect from HIV testing and what types of tests are available can help.

If you do have HIV, the sooner you find out, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle may delay the onset of AIDS — a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by HIV.

Who needs HIV testing, and how often?

If you think you may have HIV — get tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages voluntary HIV testing as a routine part of medical care if you are:

• An adolescent or adult between the ages of 13 to 64
• Pregnant, because if you're infected with HIV there are ways to reduce the chance you'll pass it along to your baby

Yearly testing is recommended if you're at high risk of infection. Consider HIV testing yearly and before having sex with a new partner if you:

• Have had unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex with more than one sexual partner or with an anonymous partner since your last screening
• Are a man who has sex with men
• Use IV drugs
• Have been diagnosed with tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as hepatitis or syphilis
• Have had unprotected sex with someone who falls into any of the above categories

How do you prepare for HIV testing?

No special preparations are necessary for HIV testing. You may need to call your doctor to schedule an appointment. Some public health clinics may allow you to simply walk in for HIV testing.

How is HIV testing done?

HIV is usually diagnosed by testing your blood or oral mucus for the presence of antibodies to the virus. Unfortunately, these HIV tests aren't accurate immediately after infection because it takes time for your body to produce antibodies — usually two to eight weeks. In rare cases, it can take up to six months for HIV antibodies to develop and for these types of HIV tests to be accurate. However, the majority of tests are considered to be accurate within three months. A few early detection tests also exist, but they may be more costly and less widely available.