Testing is the best way to know if you have HIV. The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. You can’t tell if you have HIV just by the way you feel because most people who get HIV don’t have any symptoms for years. About 1 in 7 people in the U.S. who have HIV don’t know they have it. Knowing your HIV status can keep you and your partners healthy.

Routine testing is a good part of your overall sexual health. Getting an HIV test is also a good idea if you’ve had unprotected sex or your partner tests positive for HIV. You should also get tested if you’ve shared needles with anybody (for shooting drugs, piercings, or tattoos). If you’re pregnant, get tested for HIV at your first prenatal visit.

Luckily, HIV testing is pretty easy and painless. The best part about getting tested for HIV? Once you get it over with, it can really put your mind at ease. And if you DO have HIV, it’s best to find out right away so you can take medicines to help you stay healthy and lower your chances of spreading HIV to others.

HIV tests are all very accurate at detecting HIV, but every HIV test has a window period. The window period is the time between exposure to HIV and when a test can detect HIV. AHF offers three types of HIV tests:

• Rapid HIV Test: A rapid HIV test is a fingerstick blood test that gives results in less than a minute. Rapid HIV tests are sometimes called antibody tests because it looks for antibodies in your blood. Antibodies are produced by your immune system when you’re exposed to HIV. The window period for a rapid test is generally 90 days but can vary from person to person. 

• Combination HIV Test: A combination HIV test is a blood test that gives results in less than a week. A combination test is sometimes called a fourth-generation test. It looks for both HIV antibodies and antigens. Antigens are foreign substances that cause your immune system to activate. An HIV antigen called p24 and is produced even before antibodies develop. The window period for a laboratory test is generally 45 days after infection but can also vary between individuals. 

• Nucleic Acid Test (NAT): A nucleic acid test is a blood test that gives results in less than a week. A nucleic acid test is sometimes called a viral load test. This test is used to confirm an HIV infection. It is not routinely used unless an individual has a positive rapid HIV test or positive combination HIV test.

It is important to talk to an AHF testing counselor about which HIV test is right for you. Let them know the date of your possible exposure, and they can help you plan and choose which HIV test is right for you.

AHF offers fast and free HIV tests at our AHF Wellness Centers and Out of the Closet Thrift stores. Our friendly testers and counselors are here to make your experience quick, easy, and convenient. 

AHF Wellness Centers provide free testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV exposure. No appointment is necessary, our testing counselors can see you on a walk-in basis, so you can get tested when it’s convenient for you. The testing process is fast, friendly, and confidential; your sexual health is yours to protect, and we’re here to help.

Find a testing location near you today.