Why Get Tested for HIV?

It's Quick and Easy: Getting an HIV test is quick, easy, and almost always free. It is also the only way to know for sure whether or not you have been infected. It involves a quick saliva or blood test.

Better to Know: Testing early for HIV can help put your mind at ease and reduce the anxiety of not knowing. Whether your result is negative, or positive, it's always better to know so that you can move on with your life, or start treatment if necessary.

Can Help You Live a Long and Healthy Life: If you do have HIV, being diagnosed at an early stage means that you have a better chance of living a long and healthy life.

Means You can Access Treatment: Being diagnosed early also means you can get treatment earlier and help protect your current and future sexual partners.

Supports Healthy Sexual Relationships: Testing for HIV regularly means that you can look after the sexual health of you and your partner.

Telling Others You are Postive for HIV:

The decision of who to tell about your HIV-status is a personal choice. You may find yourself trying to balance honesty with protecting your right to privacy. As with many issues surrounding HIV, there are no absolute answers that are right for everyone. 

On www.hiv.gov, The Federal Government advises...

Disclosure to Partner: Disclosing your HIV status to your partner or significant other can be complex. If you have had unprotected sex with your partner, it is important to let him/her know so that he/she can get tested. Regardless of your partner's decision to test or get results, by disclosing, you are making him/her aware of the need to practice safer sex together in the future. It is perfectly normal to experience any form of anxiety or feel nervous before telling your partner about your HIV status. It is important to understand that before your partner can respond to your needs, your partner may first feel anxiety about his/her own HIV staus and may also feel angry and upset if the infection occurred sexually, outside of the relationship. It also might be helpful to tell your partner in an effort to get yourself emotional support. It is important to have someone willing to listen to your concerns, to offer suggestions, and to simply be there.

Disclosure to Employers: It is important to remember that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, prospective employers do not have the right to make inquiries about your health or the existence of a disability prior to a conditional job offer. However, they may legally inquire if you are aware of any physical limitation that would interfere with your ability to perform the essential functions of the job. Because the Americans with Disabilities Act regards a person with HIV or AIDS as a disabled person, your employer will be required to resonably accomodate your needs if you are otherwise qualified to perform the essential duties of your job. 

Disclosure to Health Care Providers: It is important that your health care providers know about your HIV status in order to be able to give you the best possible care. it is also important that your healthcare providers are aware of your status so that they don't prescribe medication for you that may be harmful when taken with your HIV medications. Your HIV status will become part of your medical records. However, all medical information falls under strict confidentiality laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's Privacy Rule and cannot be released without your permission.