HIV testing - how often? and where?

[Guest roninx]

I'm not sure if this topic has been covered but I was just wondering how often one should get tested for HIV.

 

I know that there are a lot of factors that would determine this but I mean as a moderately active male who always practices "safely."

 

Also, is it best just to go to your GP (General Practitioner) or just to go to an STD clinic and get tested anonymously. The concern would be for discretion.

[chrismac]

During every sexual contact, there is a chance, even when practicing safe sex, that you may be exposed to HIV and become infected. Therefore, if you are not monogamous and know for certain your partner's status, you should theoretically be tested after each sexual encounter. This is of course not practical (nor affordable) for most people, so regular testing every 3 to 6 months is usually suggested. That way, if you have become infected, you can begin seeking professional advice and treatment at a very early stage.

 

You might want to check out the following site, which provides several types of tests and sites for testing around the country, and is very discreet: http://www.ehivtest.com

[OneFinger]

I get tested every 6 months. I would NOT suggest going to your doctor and highly recommend a STD clinic or other location where you can be tested annomously. Being tested by your regular doctor will leave a paper trail and could result in problems with getting (or changing) insurance.

 

If your area doesn't offer annomous testing, go to a clinic where you can be tested WITHOUT having to show ID. For many years I've volunteered at AIDS clinics and have routinely seen people use the name "Mickey Mouse" to be tested. No one questions their name.

 

If you do give a false name, I would recommend something generic that would not be confused with a real person. For example, JD Smith, TJ Max, or BJ Brown. I also make sure I use the same fake name, address, and birthday every time I get tested. That way there is a history for tracking purposes and it also cuts down on the clinic having to create a new file for me every six months.

[Guest]

>I get tested every 6 months. I would NOT suggest going to

>your doctor and highly recommend a STD clinic or other

>location where you can be tested annomously.

 

Off hand, I can only think of one reason to get tested anonymously instead of by your doctor. That would be if you don't have some sort of insurance (health, life, or disability), and want to find out before you apply. To get life or disability insurance, you will almost always have to get tested, and those results are a hell of a lot more public than your doctor's results (it gets put in the insurance companies' central computer). Sometimes health insurance questionaires only ask you if you have HIV to your knowledge, and they don't actually test you. It would make sense to get anonymous testing before that (although not entirely honest).

Nevertheless, if your test comes out positive, you're going to want to go to the doctor anyway to have your viral load and T-Helper count checked out anyways. If you weren't planning to go to the doctor after receiving an HIV-positive test results, there's little sense in getting tested in the first place. Once you go to the doctor with a positive HIV test, it's difficult to hide, even if the actual results aren't divulged. This is because it will be obvious from pharmacy records and laboratory records what you're being treated for. The laws supposedly protecting confidentiality for HIV test results were made before there was effective treatment for HIV, and are outdated at this point.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Testing

 

f oral testing is available in your area, it is very convenient, noninvasive and practical to do frequently. However, when you are doing it keep in mind if you do it too frequently without too much basis, you are using "resources" even if free ones, that may permit an agency to only offer limited services to others who may really need them. I believe in being tested frequently and would say 3 months is a good suggestion, but if not practical, twice a year to once a year, depending on your own personal risk assessment, should suffice.

 

In addition, keep in mind that frequent testing may just occassion more and heedless stress than your actual situation may call for. This would be a good topic to discuss with either a toll free HIV related help line or someone at the clinic in question, if you find someone you are comfortable with.

 

Finally, even in this day with health insurance portability, preexisting exclusions are still used to deny coverage. I am not suggesting that any individual be deceptive. I am suggesting that there are any number of very good reasons, in this day and age, particularly for a bisexual man, a married man, etc., to see anonymous testing. Follow your own comfort level in this regard but I personally am in full agreement with the second post.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

WHOOPS!

 

IF oral testing ....

[Guest Ant415]

test

 

Every six months is conventional wisdom. People need to keep in mind the hiv virus is extremely fragile. If you are safe, not using drugs, no broken condoms, you have a good chance to stay negative.

 

I don't like the city clinic or health department route. It may be anonymous and free, but the results will typically take over a week. The one time I did that, it was many sleepless nights waiting for the results.

 

My doctor (family practitioner) is sensitive to needs of gay men with respect to privacy, insurance, and fear. I go to my doc for the test, pay $75 cash, no insurance involvement. He takes the blood, sends to a lab, and he gives me the results in 48 hours. No records are kept of the test results.

 

I do not think appropiate to use the test kits in a box that you mail or courier a blood sample, and then get a call or email.

[Guest Merlin]

I prefer "Home Access" brand of self test. You can buy the kit for $40 in most drug stores, including Walgrens. You can usually it get off the shelf but in some stores you have to ask. You can also buy by calling 800-400-8988. You prick youself with a device provided and fill a circle with blood. Send it by Fed Express (included in the price). Then you call in a week (or 3 days if you buy a more expensive kit), type your code number into the phone and received a recoded message. Completely anonymous and no personal encounters. FDA approved and reliable. It costs a bit but the privacy is worth it.

[Guest Ant415]

What would you do if you received a positive?

[Guest Merlin]

Obviously, if you received a positive you would want to be retested, and, if confirmed, consult a specialist.

[Guest pshaw]

RE: WHOOPS!

 

I would think that the frequency of testing would be related to your comfort level. If your main sexual activity is getting together with an escort once or twice a month, getting tested every three (or even six) months would probably be overkill. If you have sex several times a week or with several partners in the course of a month, you probably would want to get tested much more frequently. The type of sex you have would also be a determining factor - if you are a bottom or take cum in the mouth, you would probably want to get tested more frequently than someone who just kisses, cuddles and performs a bit of oral.

 

An alternative to a STD clinic or your personal doctor would be one of those "urgent care" clinics that you find in many strip malls. ID isn't typically required unless you plan on using your health plan. If you pay by cash, you can use a false name.

[Guest bighugbearphx]

RE: test

 

I worked on the local HIV hotline for a decade, and we always pushed people to take advantage of the free, anonymous testing available in our state. We advised *against* going to private physicians and having the charge covered by health insurance.

 

The reason, in our case, wasn't primarily to keep a positive result from the insurance company. It was because our backwards state (AZ) insurance commission let insurers get away with using "frequent HIV testing" (even if always negative) as a MEASURE OF RISK, which they could use to DENY coverage or renewals, based on the assumption that the individual "must be" engaging in risky activities, or he would not be getting tested every six months.

 

We also advised strongly against the do-it-yourself home tests, which have had an unacceptably high error rate, as well as leave the testee without proper counseling. The first (doctor-administered) oral tests were also not as reliable as blood tests, but today they have been refined to the point where they are almost as reliable as blood tests (which should always be sought out as a confirmation of a positive oral test.)

 

We also suggested testing every six months for those who were sexually active with multiple partners. But, even with advances in testing that have made earlier detection more accurate, it is important to note that a negative (standard ELISA) test only provides reasonable (not 100%) assurance that one wasn't infected at SOME POINT IN TIME about 4-6 weeks earlier. If you suspect infection from a specific "episode" that took place, it is wiser to discuss this with a health care provider and schedule the testing accordingly.