Is HIV testing anonymous?

It is important to know that testing centers offer two types of testing procedures: confidential and anonymous.

Confidential HIV Testing centers record the person’s name along with the results of his or her test. Only medical personnel will have access to your results, unless you sign a release form to have your physician notified and your status included in your medical record. Your state health department may also be notified of your result so that it can track HIV infections.

Anonymous HIV Testing means that no name is ever given to the testing center, and only you and the health care professional that conducts the test will know the results.