Testing & Services
Overall health and wellness include routine testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There are many options for getting tested: a primary care doctor, at a community health clinic, or even with a self-test kit. Regular testing can help in the early detection of an infection, especially knowing that some do not experience symptoms with several STIs.
How Testing Works
- Some tests use a blood sample by a finger prick or blood draw. Our testing kits use oral fluid (saliva) samples and will provide results in as little as 20 minutes.
- If you are exposed to a virus, like HIV, your body’s immune system will produce antibodies to fight off the virus known as antigens that activate this response. This is what the testing kit is testing for.
- There are various test options like the nucleic acid test (NAT) that can determine if HIV is present or the amount of the virus present in your blood per milliliter, also known as the viral load.
- There are also tests that screen for the antigens and antibodies in the oral fluid or blood sample. Whether your results are non-reactive (reflected by one line on the test) or reactive (reflected by two lines on the test), you should discuss them with a healthcare provider.
FIND A CENTER NEAR YOU
Do your part to end the epidemic and get tested. Find an HIV/STI testing location or medical provider in your area.
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