Where to get hiv test uk

You can reduce your risk of getting or transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections by:. Unprotected sex with partners believed to be of the same HIV status serosorting is unsafe. Members of the public can find more information and advice on NHS. Evidence and resources to commission expanded HIV testing in priority medical services in high prevalence areas , April Check what you need to do.

To help us improve GOV. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Cookies on GOV. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. It is also possible to test using a saliva sample or pin-prick blood-spot test, and many sexual health clinics now use these tests routinely as the result is available within a few minutes and do not need to be sent to the lab.

However, these tests do not reliably detect HIV if you have been infected within the past few weeks. What is HIV? How do you get HIV?

HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat or urine. Other ways of getting HIV include: using a contaminated needle, syringe or other injecting equipment tranmission from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding through oral sex or sharing sex toys although the risk is significantly lower than for anal and vaginal sex Getting tested for HIV The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test.

Although there is currently no cure for HIV, there are now many treatments that can help to slow the progression of the virus. If an infected person leaves it too late to have an HIV test, their life expectancy is likely to be shorter, they may suffer more illnesses, and treatments may not be as successful.

One of the most important aspects of our work is encouraging and offering HIV tests and providing support and treatment to those who test positive. The prospect of taking an HIV test can be very daunting, but our staff are always on hand to offer counselling and support. If you feel you are regularly at risk from being infected with HIV, you are advised to attend regular HIV tests accordingly and it may be advisable to have a chat with one of our Health Advisers to discuss ways in which we can help you to reduce your ongoing risk.

For all these tests, a blood test should be carried out to confirm the result if the first test is positive. If this test is also positive, you'll be referred to a specialist HIV clinic for some more tests and a discussion about your treatment options. Read more about coping with a positive HIV test. If you're pregnant, you'll be offered a blood test to check if you have HIV as part of routine antenatal screening.

If untreated, HIV can be passed to your baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. Treatment in pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of passing HIV on to the baby. Read more about screening for HIV during pregnancy.