GETTING TESTED
Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you think you might have been exposed to HIV.
The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test. This involves testing a sample of your blood or saliva for signs of the infection.
An early HIV diagnosis means you can start treatment sooner, which can improve your chances of controlling the condition long term.
HIV tests may need to be repeated one to three months after potential exposure to HIV infection, this is known as the ‘window period’, but you shouldn’t wait this long to seek initial help!
You can get tested in a number of places, including your;
GP surgery
Sexual health clinic
Clinics run by charities
Home-testing or home-sampling kits are available to buy or order online or from pharmacies – depending on the type of test you use, your result will be available in a few minutes or a few days.