Should I get tested?

If you’ve ever taken a risk with sex or with needles – even just one time – then getting an HIV test is the smart thing to do. Risky behaviors include having unprotected sex or sharing needles for drug use, piercing, or tattooing.

When you get tested, a counselor will tell you about the testing process. An HIV test looks for antibodies that the immune system makes to fight HIV. If these antibodies are found, then the test result is called “positive.” This means that you have been infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

The counselor will talk with you about HIV/AIDS and help you see if you are taking any risks. He or she will make sure you know how to protect yourself from HIV infection. A counselor will explain “window period” – if your test is negative but you’ve taken any risk recently, then you will need a second test after a few months to be sure you’re not infected. After you’ve had the test, you’ll be given an appointment to come back in about two weeks for your results. The counselor will answer any questions you may have.

Here’s how knowing your HIV status helps you:

If you test negative after the “window period” has passed, then you can look on this as a new beginning. From now on, if you avoid all risky behaviors, then you will stay “HIV-free.”

If you test positive, getting medical care right away can help you stay as healthy as possible, even though HIV infection is still incurable.

Testing is simple. It can be done using a blood sample, a urine sample, or by taking some cells from inside your mouth. You can ask your own health care provider for an HIV test, visit a registered test site, or go to special community events where HIV tests are being given. At publicly funded sites, the test will be free or the cost may be lowered, depending on your income. No one is refused a test due to not being able to pay.

To find where registered HIV test sites are located in Broward, call the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline at:

1-800-FLA-AIDS English Language Hotline

1-800-545-SIDA Spanish Language Hotline

1-800-AIDS-101 Creole Language Hotline

1-888-503-7118 TDD/TTY Hotline

or you can search on the web at http://www.tcrs211.org/hiv/statistics.htm

You can also call the Broward County Health Department at: (954) 467-4779

Or check out the locations on the Department of Health’s website

Many thanks to Jolene Mullins, Early Intervention Specialist, Broward County Health Dept., for help on this article.