HIV testing can be done by either drawing a small amount of blood (which is then sent to a local lab), or by taking a sample of your saliva (OraSure and OraQuick tests). Costs for blood testing may vary; the saliva tests are generally free of charge.

Blood tests and OraSure test results are usually available within three to five working days, since they must be sent out to a lab, and you must return to the testing site to obtain your results. OraQuick test results are available within 30 minutes, so you can find out almost immmediately, with no need for a return visit to get your results.

Outreach Community Care Network can perform any of these three types of tests, either confidentially or anonymously. Click here for Outreach HIV Testing information.

Testing kits are also available which allow you to collect and ship a blood sample for testing, in the privacy of your own home. Please see the FDA site for more the latest information about "home" testing.

In some rare cases, the test results can be "indeterminate", which means that you may need a confirmatory test (usually a blood test). It can take some time for an HIV infection to produce sufficient antibodies, so if you have been recently infected you may need to be re-tested within 3 to 6 months (called a "window period"). When in doubt, or if you believe you may have been exposed to HIV, continue to get tested on a regular basis!

There are a number of HIV testing locations in the Outreach Community Care Network service area that provide testing, some at no cost to you. Be sure to call ahead if you have questions about when the tests are offered and whether there is a charge. Your doctor's office or clinic can also test you for HIV.