KNOWING YOUR HIV STATUS CAN HELP KEEP YOU AND OTHERS SAFE

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 13 to 64 years old get tested for HIV at least once. As a general rule, people at high risk for HIV infection should get tested each year. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from getting tested more often, such as every 3 to 6 months.

YOU ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF HAVING HIV IF YOU ARE:

having vaginal or anal sex with someone who is HIV positive or whose HIV status you don’t know.
injecting drugs and sharing needles, syringes or other drug equipment with others.
having a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as syphilis.
having hepatitis or tuberculosis (TB).
having sex with anyone who has any of the HIV risk factors listed above.

YOU ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF HAVING Hep C IF YOU:

have ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago.
received donated blood or organs before 1992.
have certain medical conditions, such HIV or AIDS.
have been exposed to blood from a person who has Hep C.
are healthcare workers exposed to a needle prick.
were born to a mother with Hep C.
were born from 1945 – 1965.

IF YOU ARE HIV NEGATIVE:

Testing shows that you don’t have HIV. Continue taking steps to avoid getting HIV, such as using condoms during sex and, if you are at high risk of becoming infected, taking medicines to prevent HIV (Pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP). For more information on PrEP click here.

IF YOU ARE HIV POSITIVE:

If testing shows that you are infected with HIV, you can still take steps to protect your health. Your health care provider will help you decide what HIV medicines to take.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE RESULTS OF AN HIV TEST?

Rapid HIV tests, which involves a finger prick, can produce results within 30 minutes. If positive, a second test is required to confirm and usually takes a few days to a few weeks to get results.

HOPE Center offers on-site and mobile testing, call us to see when the mobile testing van will be near you.