How to Test for HIV After Exposure

If you know that you have been exposed to HIV, or even if you only suspect it, it can be a frightening situation. The only way to ease your mind is to get a blood test that will tell you for sure whether or not you have contracted the AIDS virus due to the exposure. You can use a home test kit or visit a doctor or testing center. Whichever route you take, you need to follow the proper steps to make sure the results are accurate.

Instructions

• 1

  Wait at least 2 weeks after you have been exposed to HIV before you get tested. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it can take from 2 to 8 weeks or longer for detectable antibodies to develop in the bloodstream. The CDC says that the average time is 25 days. If you get a test too early, you may get a false negative because the antibodies were yet present.

• 2

  Decide whether you want to perform the AIDS test at home or whether you would prefer to see a medical professional. Some people who have been exposed to HIV prefer the privacy of an in-home test, while others have more confidence in a test conducted by a doctor or nurse.

• 3

  If you decide to use an in-home HIV test, use one that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Many test kits sold on the Internet are not FDA approved and may not be accurate. You can find out which kits are approved by visiting the National HIV and STD Testing Resources website. The kit will require you to take a blood sample by pricking your finger. You will put droplets on a special card and send it to the testing center, which will give you your results by phone. If you test positive, you will be referred for a second test to confirm the results.

• 4

  If you prefer to have the HIV test done by a medical professional, schedule an appointment with your family doctor. If you are not comfortable using your regular doctor, find a testing center through the search page on the National HIV and STD Testing Resources website.

• 5

  Have another HIV test within 6 months if you had your initial test within the first 3 months after exposure and it came back negative. Because of the variable length of time it can take to develop antibodies, there is a small possibility that you could be infected even if the first results were negative.