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1. What is the HIV antibody test?

The HIV antibody test tells if you have HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The test looks for HIV antibodies in your blood. If antibodies are found, you have HIV. You can pass HIV on to other people even if you look and feel healthy.

2. What happens when you take the test?

A nurse will explain the test to you. You can ask questions and talk about your risks for HIV. Then the nurse will get a drop of blood from your finger. The test takes 15 minutes to process, and at the end of that time you will get your results.

3. What about counseling?

Counseling should be given to you before and after the test. All counseling and testing is confidential.

Counseling before the test includes:

Helping you understand what the test can and can’t tell you.

Explaining if anyone else can find out your test results.

Helping you understand your risk for HIV.

Counseling after the test includes:

Helping you understand what your test result means.

Ways to prevent the spread of HIV, whether your test is positive or negative.

Helping you make a plan to deal with either a positive or a negative test result.

4. Why should I take the test?

There are many good reasons to take the test:

Testing can reduce your anxiety and may help you make changes to improve your quality of life.

If you are thinking about getting pregnant, testing can help you look at the risk of passing HIV to your baby. There are medicines you can take to reduce the baby’s risk of getting HIV.

You will know if it is safe to donate blood or organs.

If you have HIV, you can learn how to keep your immune system strong.

5. Should I take the test?

You may want to be tested if you are at risk for HIV.

You are at risk if:

You have ever shared needles or works to inject or snort drugs or have done non-professional tattooing or piercing.

You have ever had sex with an injection drug user.

You have been a sex partner of someone with HIV or someone at risk for HIV.

You have had many sex partners, or have had sex with someone who has.

You have ever been sexually assaulted

You have ever had a sexually transmitted disease or infection.

6. Where can I get tested?

Uinta County Public Health provides testing and counseling for HIV, Hepatitis B & C, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Please call to make an appointment, and remember ALL testing and counseling is confidential..