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Christopher talks about how getting an HIV test saved his life and he’s now helping youth learn about HIV prevention, testing and fighting stigma. Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
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HIV Testing, Education, & Counseling
Our professional staff are experienced and trained to provide confidential or anonymous HIV testing in a non-judgmental manner. Our process is simple, a professional staff will see you, and ask questions about your risk for acquiring HIV. We want to provide you with an understanding of your risks for acquiring HIV, and together, develop a risk reduction plan to help prevent future infection.
FAQs
WHY BE TESTED FOR HIV?
- It's the only way to confirm you have HIV.
- Early diagnosis allows you and your doctor to begin developing a treatment plan that could ward off complications and infections and provide years of healthy living.
- Left untreated, HIV can cause life-threatening health problems.
- Early diagnosis alert you to avoid high-risk behavior that spreads the disease to others.
who should be tested?
- Share drug needles or syringes
- Have anal sex without a condom, especially receptive anal intercourse
- Have sex with an infected person without using a condom
- Have vaginal or anal sexual contact without using a condom with someone whose HIV status is unknown, especially those who are at high risk for acquiring HIV
- Have a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, genital herpes, chlamydial infection, gonorrhea and bacterial vaginosis, which appear to increase susceptibility to HIV infection during sex with infected partners
When should i be tested for hiv?
Most tests look for antibodies produced by your body to fight HIV infection. These antibodies don't develop immediately but emerge within a few weeks to six months of being infected. The average time for antibodies to develop is three to four weeks.
It is not effective to get tested immediately after you think you may have been infected. If you do so, you should be re-tested in three months and then again at six months if your test results are negative. During this period of testing, avoid all behavior that could spread HIV to others, such as unprotected sex and sharing needles or syringes.
It is not effective to get tested immediately after you think you may have been infected. If you do so, you should be re-tested in three months and then again at six months if your test results are negative. During this period of testing, avoid all behavior that could spread HIV to others, such as unprotected sex and sharing needles or syringes.
Resources
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
