The Basics

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. You could have HIV and still feel healthy. Many doctors recommend HIV testing for all teens and adults between the ages of 13 and 64.

It’s especially important to get tested regularly if you are at high risk of infection. Get tested for HIV at least once a year if you:

• Have unprotected sex (sex without a condom)
• Have sex with men who have sex with men
• Use drugs with needles
• Have a sex partner who is HIV–positive
• Have had a sexually transmitted disease (STD)

Your doctor may suggest getting tested even if you don’t ask about it.

What is HIV?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. This is the virus that causes AIDS. There is no cure yet for HIV/AIDS, but there is treatment.

HIV is spread through some of the body’s fluids, such as:

• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal fluids
• Breast milk

HIV is passed from one person to another by:

• Having unprotected sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) with a person who has HIV
• Sharing needles with someone who has HIV
• Breastfeeding, pregnancy, or childbirth if a mother has HIV
• Getting a transfusion of blood that has HIV, which is rare in the United States

How can I get tested for HIV?
There are different types of HIV tests. The most common are:

• A blood test
• An oral (mouth) test – A swab is taken of the fluid from your mouth, between your cheek and gum (not saliva).
• A urine test

The results from these HIV tests are usually ready between a few days and 2 weeks.

In many places, you can get a rapid HIV test. Results from rapid tests are ready in 20 to 60 minutes.