HIV Status in 20 minutes or less
If you pop into a Health4Men competent clinic or Yellow Dot Doctor near you, you can have your HIV test results in about 20 minutes, which is how long it would take you to make and then drink a cup of coffee.
HIV can take up to 3 months to show up on a test, which is why getting tested every 3 to 6 months is recommended if you’ve had risky sex or possible exposure to HIV.
You’ll receive some counselling from a healthcare practitioner, who is trained to counsel men who have sex with men in a non-judgmental and sympathetic way, before and after the test. This is a safe space to talk openly about your sexual behaviour. They have heard and seen it all so don’t be afraid to speak your truth when it comes to your sexual health.
You’ll have one of your fingers pricked lightly enough to produce a drop of blood (you hardly feel it), and then that drop of blood is used in a disposable kit right in front of you. The healthcare provider will explain exactly how the test works and how a positive or negative HIV result should look. Easy as 123!
If you want to get tested for any other STIs, chat to the healthcare provider, and you can get screened for gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis or hepatitis. HPV (genital warts virus) can only be determined if you are displaying symptoms.
You can also easily get tested for HIV or other STI at your local doctor if you feel more comfortable.