Where to Get Tested for HIV
Getting an HIV test with fast results has been made pretty convenient. Whether ordered online or in person, options for free and paid tests have been made available to you. A lot of the tests for HIV are usually really fast, and you can get your test result back in a matter of minutes.
For in-person tests, these are the available options:
Tests done at any of the above places are often free, so you don’t have to worry about the cost. However, if you are getting the test done at a clinic, you will have to pay as it is not free.
How your in-person test is carried out may be different because measures set out during the covid 19 pandemic may still be in place, so do well to call before going.
The following tests can be done online:
An easy means of testing for people who have a high-risk factor of HIV is to use our finger-prick and oral gum swab HIV self-test kit. We offer free tests in certain areas as well.
You can check out our free online HIV test finder to know which of the online tests are available where you are. You should be on the lookout for the CE mark if you are making use of the self-testing method.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENTMany services will offer quick testing, usually done in the form of a finger-prick test, which will have your results ready in a few minutes. With a self-test kit, your results should be ready within 15 minutes of performing the test at home based on the test kit you are working with.
With an in-person test, the blood sample will be sent to the laboratory for analysis, and your test results will be available from 24 hours to 7 days.
For postal testing, you will be contacted by the laboratory when the result is ready.
An HIV test is a blood sample test. This test does not identify HIV itself. What it searches for is the antibodies that the body produces while fighting HIV or the proteins that can be found in the HIV cell.
Tests conducted at our clinic are very accurate and can be trusted. Sometimes, a test can show positive at first, and when done the second time, it appears negative. This is known as a false positive. It doesn’t happen very often.
The usual period set by the National testing guideline is a 90-day window for HIV self-tests. The blood tests that are collected at sexual health clinics and sent out to be analysed in a laboratory have a 45-day window period.
In other words, a self-test will let you know your HIV status as of 90 days ago, while a blood test will give you your test results in 45 days.
The type of test you use is usually based on how much exposure to HIV that you’ve had. The symptoms of HIV don’t usually appear immediately after you get infected. The signs usually begin to appear after about four weeks of exposure to the virus, although it can take longer to appear in some cases.
If you suspect that there is a possibility that you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, there is a chance of taking post-exposure prophylaxis to help stop the occurrence of an infection. If you were recently exposed to the virus, you may be advised to perform a test and follow up with another test in 7 days. If there was any infection that the first test missed, the second test is sure to catch it.
You must tell the person conducting your test the period you were exposed to, as this will play a major role in deciding what type of test to perform.
An infection that occurred in the last three months is not guaranteed to be picked up by a self-test. So, if you suspect that you were exposed in the past 3 months, it is advisable to get tested in person.
On rare occasions, it may be up to three months before antibodies begin to show in the bloodstream. Therefore, for the negative HIV result to be totally reliable, it should be three months between the period of the test and the period of exposure to the virus. Although, a negative test result within 4 to 8 weeks of exposure is usually a great indication that HIV infection has not occurred.
A great sexual health practice for sexually active people is performing an HIV test as well as a test for other sexually transmitted infections at least once a year, whether you suspect that you have been exposed or not. You might as well think of getting tested more regularly based on how many different sexual partners you may have in a year.
Bisexual or gay men or any other men who have sex with their fellow men should have routine HIV tests done, as well as tests for other sexually transmitted infections. This should be done at least once a year or preferably quarterly for everyone who has unprotected sex with casual or new partners.
African men and women who have casual unprotected sex are advised to do a routine HIV and STI test often. Transgender men, as well as transgender women who have sex with MSM, are also advised to get tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as well. As far as they are having unprotected sexual intercourse with casual partners
Early detection of HIV can help save not just your life but other people’s lives as well because you can commence treatments that will help to manage the infection better, and you will be careful as well not to pass it on to someone else. If you start treatments early enough, you may be able to avoid the very critical illnesses that usually come with it. With early detection and commencement of treatment, an infected person may live a normal lifestyle.
With consistent and efficient treatment, your viral load can become undetected, and at that point, you can no longer pass on the virus to another person. If you delay getting tested, it could lead to serious long-term health issues. A lot of provisions have been made readily available for people whose test for HIV comes out positive.
When HIV is untreated, it can develop into a more severe infection known as AIDS, and this is way more difficult to manage and control
Most people who are infected with the virus experience a quick flu-like illness shortly after getting infected but are usually back to feeling fine after that and don’t experience further sickness for a while. Many people typically show more signs of the virus years later.
A seroconversion illness is simply a 1 week or 2 weeks illness that a lot of people experience, usually within the first 6 weeks of getting infected.
When Seroconversion happens, it usually indicates that the body’s immune system has detected and is reacting to the HIV in the body. It is usually at this time that the body begins to make antibodies in an attempt to fight off the virus. Once this seroconversion reaction has happened, an HIV test that is done will show antibodies, and the test will be positive.
Seroconversion is very common, although not everyone experiences it after being infected with HIV. Some people have a more serious reaction that can lead to hospitalisation, while others experience mild versions that can be mistaken for the flu. However, note that a cough or runny nose is not a sign of HIV.
Body fluids, including blood, anal or vaginal secretions, and semen, of an infected person are very contagious, especially within the early period of infections. However, the viral load can become undetectable with the right treatment and will no longer be transmitted.
It can take as much as six months of efficient treatment to get to the stage where the virus becomes undetectable.
It is normal to see the following signs because HIV weakens the immune system.
These signs don’t always say that a person has HIV because they are symptoms of other illnesses as well. A weak immune system can leave you open to diseases like
The only confirmed way to know certainly if you have HIV is by doing a test, so rather than self-diagnosing because of the symptoms you are experiencing, you can save yourself the trouble and have a test done.
Make sure to inform the medical professional carrying out your tests about any symptoms you may be experiencing, especially if they are seroconversion symptoms. This can affect the type of test that will be done to achieve the best results.
For safety purposes, and at least until you get your test results back, you should ensure that you use a condom to avoid the spread of the virus.
For a trusted, quick and convenient private HIV test, please book an appointment with us today. You can take an individual HIV test or add it as an extra to any of our private health screening packages. Contact us for more enquiries.