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HIV Testing
An HIV test is the only way to know if you or a partner has HIV. Free or low-cost tests are available for anyone 12 and older at NYC Sexual Health Clinics, regardless of immigration status. You do not need to have consent from a parent or guardian to get tested.
Getting tested and knowing your HIV status is the first step toward taking care of your health.
- If you test negative, you can learn about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV prevention options.
- If you test positive, you should meet with a health care provider and start HIV medications right away. Getting and staying on treatment keeps you healthy and prevents transmission to your sex partners. In New York City, HIV treatment is available, regardless of your immigration status or whether you have insurance.
Different Types of HIV Tests
- Standard laboratory blood tests are very accurate and provide results within a few days.
- Finger-stick blood tests provide results in 20 minutes or less.
- Oral swab tests do not require giving blood and provide results in 20 minutes.
- Self test kits are available for purchase — they use an oral swab and allow you to test yourself in private.
The time between when a person may have been exposed to HIV and when a test can tell for sure whether they have HIV is called the window period. The window period varies from person to person and depends on the type of test used to detect HIV.
Recent HIV infections can result in symptoms that may seem similar to cold or flu symptoms, such as fever, rash and sore throat. If you are experiencing these symptoms after a possible HIV exposure, be sure to tell your health care provider you are concerned you have an HIV infection, not just a cold or flu.
Testing Locations
You can find free or low-cost HIV testing locations near you by:
- Visiting an NYC Sexual Health Clinic, where anyone 12 or older can get a confidential, anonymous test
- Searching the NYC Health Map
- Texting “TESTNYC” to 55676
- Calling 311
Interested in HIV self-testing? Request a free HIV self-test kit by contacting an agency participating in the Community Home Test Giveaway (CHTG) program. Find CHTG partners on the NYC Health Map by clicking the Sexual Health Services category and then HIV Testing.
When to Get Tested
Scheduled
You should ask your medical provider how often you should get tested for HIV.
Generally, if you are having sex or using street or injectable drugs, you should get tested at least once a year. People in the following groups should be tested every three to six months:
- Men and transgender people who have sex with men
- People who have a sex partner with HIV
- People who use PrEP
Recent Exposure
If you think you were exposed to HIV, start taking emergency post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) immediately. PEP can stop a new HIV infection if you start taking it within 72 hours of exposure. To get started on PEP right away, go to a clinic or emergency room, or call the 24/7 NYC PEP Hotline at 844-3-PEPNYC (844-373-7692).
If you get an HIV test after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, get tested again after the window period for that type of test to be sure. If your health care provider uses a test performed by a laboratory on blood from a vein, you should get tested again 45 days after your most recent exposure. For other tests, you should get tested again at least 90 days after your most recent exposure.
An HIV infection takes a few days to become established. Ten days after exposure, go to a clinic or hospital and ask for a test for new (“acute”) HIV infection. These types of tests are available to eligible patients at NYC Sexual Health Clinics.
While you wait for your test results, avoid having sex. During an acute infection, people have a very high level of virus in their bodies and can easily pass HIV to others.
Additional Resources
- Expect The Test: What you need to know about HIV testing (PDF)
- HIV Among Women (PDF)
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