Understanding HIV Testing Options

HIV testing is more than just a lab slip and a needle prick.

The Testing Process

All counselors—the people who staff our appointment telephone lines and those at our test sites—are trained and certified by the state of California. During your initial telephone call and later, at your appointment, counselors will help you identify particular behaviors that can put you at risk for HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. In addition, during the session, counselors will provide you with referrals you may need to other services.

All counseling and testing sessions are conducted individually. The main exception to this is an interpreter (which AHP will provide) if you request counseling in a language other than English (including American Sign Language). You must make this request when you call for an appointment. AHP will provide either a counselor who speaks your requested language or an interpreter.

After you receive your result, you can request that another person join you in the session as you and your counselor talk about your result, future steps, referrals, and linkage to other services. AHP counselors can help clients decide whether to have someone else join the session. Your counselor must obtain your written consent before the additional person is permitted to join you.

Your Options

The options you will need to consider are:

Antibody versus RNA Testing

Timing and Location of Testing