What kind of HIV tests are available?

There are different types of HIV tests, including an antibody test which looks for HIV antibodies in a person’s blood, and a rapid test which is based on the same technology, but can produce results within 20 minutes.

Tests can be provided in health clinics, doctors’ surgeries or specialist HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) sites, by a doctor, trained counselor, nurse or other health professional. Either a blood sample or an oral fluid sample will be taken, depending on the type of test. The test should always be confidential, and personal doctors are not told without the person’s permission.

OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, is the first oral at home test to be approved by the FDA and is now available online and in many retail stores across the U.S.  An answer, appearing in the form of one or two reddish lines, arrives in 20 to 40 minutes.

When people use at-home testing kits, there’s a greater chance they’ll wind up with a false negative test result than if they’re tested in a medical center. Getting the results of your HIV test can be an emotional event. A test administered by a trained professional who can provide counseling and advice is recommended.