HIV and AIDS have not gone away

Call the Sexual Health Line free on 0800 567 123 (UK only) for details of where you can get the test. NHS sexual health (GUM) clinics offer free HIV testing, and screening for other infections.

Remember

• All information is kept strictly confidential
• You can go to any clinic, anywhere in the country. You don't have to use a local one and you don't have to be referred by your GP
• You can also get the test from your family doctor/GP; the result will probably be entered in your medical records

What if the result is HIV negative?
This means that no antibodies to HIV were found in your blood. This usually means that you do not have HIV. It can however, take the body up to three months to produce antibodies. If you think you have been at risk less than three months ago, you might need to have a repeat test. Remember - even if your test result is negative you can still become infected in the future if you put yourself at risk again!

What if the result is HIV positive?
This means that you do have HIV antibodies in your blood and are HIV positive. This does not tell you whether you have AIDS.

Being HIV positive means you will need to look at ways of taking particular care of your own health. It also means that you can pass on the virus to others (but only in the ways already discussed). So:

• Always use a condom for vaginal, oral or anal sex
• If you inject drugs, do not let other people use your equipment
• Remember that you cannot pass on the virus through everyday social contact

You will be offered a referral to an HIV specialist. There are treatments that can help delay the onset of AIDS and you can discuss whether or when to start these with your consultant. This decision is an important one. How well treatment works can depend on starting it at the right time.

If you want more information you can call the Sexual Health Line free (from the UK) on 0800 567 123 for more information on sexual health (including HIV) or phone your local NHS sexual health clinic

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Reproduced with kind permission from www.playingsafely.co.uk

Read how HIV sufferer Julie has fought against prejudice, and learnt to live with HIV

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