HIV/STI TEST

The Test

The HIV test is simple, it can be done only with the consent of the interested person, and respecting his/her confidentiality; it is generally free in public centers, but there are cases where the payment of a ticket is required.

Generally, it consists of a simple blood test and the result is available after a few days. Only a few centers, on request, use kits for rapid saliva test that provides results after about 20 minutes; any positive result has to be confirmed by blood tests.

When you are at risk of HIV infection

In most cases the situations at risk of infection are:
√ unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal or anal penetration without a condom, either between two men or between a man and a woman, or oral intercourse with ejaculation in the mouth) with a person that you do not know for sure is HIV-negative;
√ contact of a lesion with the blood of another person that you do not know for sure is HIV negative (eg using syringes or other sharp objects which have been used by others and may have traces of blood of other people).

If you believe you have experienced a situation of risk it is necessary and important to get tested. If you frequently are in situations at risk of infection, for example if you have several sexual partners or if you frequently use injecting drug use with other people, it is a good idea het tested regularly, at least once a year or once every six months.

When get tested?

To be sure not to have been infected, it is necessary to get tested at least 6 weeks after the at-risk event. The negative result of a test performed before this period (called the window period, the time from infection until a test can detect any change) is not considered final and the test should be repeated anyway.

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