5 FACTS ABOUT TESTING

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1. It takes time for HIV to be detected in the body
   Most people who’ve been exposed to HIV will test positive within one month after exposure, but a small number of people take up to three months.

2. You’re highly infectious during the ‘window period’
   That’s the time between HIV infection and the production of antibodies. A lot of HIV transmission occurs because guys don’t know that they have HIV developing in the window period.

3. Testing negative after three months is a good sign
   A negative test at three months after an initial test will almost always mean a person does not have HIV, given there’s been no risk of HIV transmission in the meantime.

4. Your HIV test results are confidential
   If you’re worried about the confidentiality of your results, you should know that all testing in private GPs and public clinics is governed by Privacy Law. Talk with your GP or clinic about this when testing. At some clinics you don’t need a Medicare card and in some cases you don’t even have to give your real name if you don’t want to.

5. HIV and STI testing is available free of charge at many sexual health clinics
   In many cases HIV testing is free and you don’t need a Medicare card. You can find your nearest testing site in NSW here.

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HIV Antibody Test

The HIV antibody test is the most common test gay men will have during a sexual health check.

If you have contracted HIV, your immune system will start producing antibodies reacting to the virus within 2-12 weeks following exposure. These antibodies are detected by the test, and if you test positive, another test will be done to confirm the result.