Testing FAQs

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are very common. There are approximately 20 million new cases of STDs in the U.S. every year, about half of which are among people under the age of 25. Many people who have one don’t know it.

The good news is that all STDs, including HIV, are treatable, and many are curable.

STDs often show no symptoms initially. Left untreated, however, STDs can cause serious and lasting health issues. They can result in infertility for women and men. Some are associated with certain cancers. Having an untreated STD can increase your risk of getting another. Untreated STDs can also be passed from mother to baby.

Since STDs often show no symptoms, the only way to know if you (or a partner has one) is to ask to be tested.

A healthcare provider can advise which STDs you should be tested for – and how often. Testing for HIV and other STDs is recommended as part of routine health care, but that does not mean it automatically happens. To know for sure, ask to be tested.

Testing for HIV, as well as other STDs, is also encouraged for women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy. If you do have an STD, you can be treated to prevent passing the virus to your baby.

CDC, HIV Basics,Testing. October 2018.

A healthcare provider can advise how frequently you should be tested – and for which STDs. For some people it may be once a year, or more often. Getting tested before beginning a new sexual relationship is also a good idea.

Given the higher rates of infection, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and many health departments recommend gay and bisexual men and transgender women get tested for HIV more frequently, every 3 to 6 months.

Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should get tested as early as possible. If you are found to have HIV, there are treatments that can prevent passing the virus to the baby.

CDC, HIV Basics, Testing. October 2018.

There are different tests for different STDs, and some STDs, including HIV, have different types of tests available. Some may use a blood draw, otherwise may test urine. Sometimes a physical exam is required.

Click here for a complete overview of the testing available for different STDs.

Also there is no such thing as an “everything” test. Just having your blood drawn does not mean you are being tested for STDs. If you want to be screened for a specific STD, ask to be tested.

The only way to know if you are being tested for HIV, or any other STD, is to ask to be tested.

Testing for HIV and other STDs is recommended as part of routine health care, including prenatal care for pregnant women, but that does not mean it automatically happens. Discuss with a healthcare provider what STDs you should be tested for, and how often. This way you will know for sure what tests you have had.

CDC, HIV Basics, Testing. October 2018.

Some HIV tests use blood, and others test cells inside the mouth. HIV blood tests may be a finger stick or a draw from the inner arm. Oral HIV tests use a swab of the mouth.

If you have a preference for the type of test, ask your health care provider. At-home HIV test kits are also available for sale in many drug stores.

HIV tests look for antibodies that result after infection. It can take three to 12 weeks (maybe longer) after exposure before HIV antibodies are detected by a test. During this time, sometimes called a “window period,” you still could pass HIV to others, even if you have an initial negative test result. For this reason, your healthcare provider may suggest you come back to be retested.

If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, talk to your health care provider about post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) right away.

There are different types of tests for HIV, including rapid tests that give results in under 20 minutes and some in as fast as one minute. A positive rapid HIV test will require a follow up blood draw for confirmation. These results are typically sent to a lab for analysis. How long it takes to get a result depends on the lab. If you are within the window period, whatever test you use and whatever result you get will require reconfirmation.

Talk with your health care provider about your situation and the window period for the HIV test you are taking to find out if re-testing is recommended.

See: What is PEP?

CDC, HIV Basics, Testing. October 2018.

Free or low cost testing for HIV, as well as many other STDs, is available in most areas.

Most insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover STD testing. If you are paying out-of-pocket the cost can vary at different locations. Some clinics will offer a sliding-scale cost depending on your income.

Click here to find free or low cost HIV and other STD testing near you.

Testing for HIV and other STDs is available in most doctor’s offices and health clinics, including Planned Parenthood. Many health departments also offer testing, often for free or at a very low cost.

If you don’t have a regular health care provider, click here to find STD testing near you, including free HIV testing.

When you donate blood in the U.S., your blood is tested for HIV and other infections before it enters the blood supply. As a result, the U.S. has one of the safest blood supplies in the world today. However, blood donation is not a reliable or recommended way to learn your HIV status. Blood donation is not intended as a replacement for an HIV test.

Click here to find STD testing near you, including free HIV testing.

If your HIV test comes back positive, a follow-up test will be conducted. If the follow-up test is also positive, it means you are living with HIV.

It is important that you start medical care and begin HIV treatment as soon as you are diagnosed with HIV, even if you don’t feel sick.

Antiretrovirals (ARVs) are prescribed medications used to treat HIV. A person diagnosed with HIV on ongoing treatment and in medical care can live a normal, healthy lifespan. In addition to improving health, ARVs also prevent the spread of the virus.

ARVs are recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are. To get the full health and preventive benefits of ARVs, it is important to stay connected to medical care and continue to take medications every day as prescribed.

Click here to learn more about HIV treatment.

HHS, Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents: Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy. October 2017.
CDC, HIV Basics, Testing. October 2018.

If you don’t have HIV, the goal is to stay that way. There are more options than ever to prevent infection.

For people who do not have HIV who want added protection, PrEP is a prescription pill that keeps HIV from taking hold in the body. When taken every day, PrEP has been shown to be highly effective in protecting against infection.

Condoms are a non-medication means of protection that are readily available. When used consistently and correctly, condoms are highly effective in protecting against HIV, as well as many other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). There are also condoms specifically designed for women. Like male condoms, female condoms are a barrier method of protection. Female condoms are inserted into the vagina.

If your HIV test results are within a window period when you might have been exposed, it is possible that it is too early for the test to detect HIV. Your health care provider can advise on whether re-testing is necessary and how often you should be tested going forward.

See: How soon does a test detect HIV?
See:  How often should I get tested?

CDC, HIV Basics, Testing. October 2018.
CDC, HIV Basics, Prevention. January 2019.

All STDs, including HIV, are treatable, and many, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, are curable with antibiotics. Others, notably herpes and HIV that do not have a cure, can be treated with prescription medications.

If you are given a prescription for an antibiotic for an STD, take all of your medicine even if the symptoms go away sooner.