Confession About Testing for HIV/STD's

[Uncle Bill]

This post is mainly for the closeted/married guys on this site. I don't know how many guys that read this will be in my boat (as detailed below), but my guess is that there are a lot of us out there.

 

I've been hiring for something like 4 years and never got tested for HIV or other STD's until just recently. I've always played safe, but I've also always felt guilty about not being tested since something could always happen, and I was endangering the guys that I hired (several of who I'm pretty close to) as well as my family (long-shot there as far as spreading something, but still a major concern). What stopped me from getting tested earlier? Pure fear -- not of the diseases themselves, but of someone finding out that I was getting tested. I was also afraid that there would be some record that gets to my insurance company (and thereby possibly to my employer) both about being tested, and, heaven forbid, being positive if the test turned out that way. I'm heavily closeted and more than a bit paranoid about being found out (although I'll deal with it fine if that ever happens). So what did I do? I just kept on hiring, of course (and did a little praying also).

 

A few months ago, an escort on this site recommened the AIM Health Care clinics in Los Angeles. It wasn't until a couple weeks ago when having a great heart-to-heart talk with a new escort (who is in the adult film industry and gets tested regularly) that I decided to finally get tested for the first time myself. He also recommended AIM, told me what to do and what to expect when going there (although I found he left a couple of things out), and got me the addresses and phone numbers (at my request) off the Internet using his computer. I have to say that he was never once judgemental with me, which probably helped a lot in getting me over my "issues".

 

Of course, when I walked into the place, I felt totally conspicuous even though no one was in the waiting room at the time (that changed in a few minutes, which made me even more paranoid, although the clientele of this place are not bad to look at as it caters to the adult industry). I told them that I had never been in there before and wanted a complete battery of tests, and they gave me forms that wanted every bit of information possible about me and to sign that I understood that the results would basically be broadcast across the world (OK, I'm exagerating, but that's what it seemed like). I stared at the pages for a while and went back to the counter to say that I really didn't want to supply all of this info, and they said, quite casually, "Oh, you can do it anonymously if you want. Just make up a name, birth date and driver's license number, and sign the forms with that name. Oh, and be sure to remember the name you pick so that you don't have any problems when you call back for the results." From then on, it was smooth sailing (although the woman that took my blood could have been nicer -- and she must have asked me 4 times if I had screwed the lid of the urine sample on tightly). I called them when they said the results would be ready and got them right over the phone.

 

Bottom line, whether you do it for yourself, your loved ones, or the other people you come into contact with, get tested and, if necessary, get treated. The testing process was really easy if you just walk in and tell them directly that you want to be tested anonymously. Their website is http://www.aim-med.org and details the tests they do and the fees (bring cash if you want total anonymity).

 

How did my results come out? All negative, and now I can go get a Hep B vaccination from them. Was I nervous while waiting for the results? Not as nervous as when I walked into the clinic that first time. Would I be writing about all of this if some of the results had been positive? I tell myself "yes" and know that I intended to post something from the minute I walked out of the clinic, but I wonder whether I really would have done that or even told the guys who I've hired about the results. Goes back to the old rule -- always assume that everyone is lying (knowingly or otherwise) when they claim to be negative and act accordingly.

[VaHawk]

A very insightful compassionate post. I'm glad your tests all came out good, and I know you did the right thing, and hope that you continue to get tested on a regular basis. I have always felt that many people don't get tested because they are afraid to hear the truth. I know that you must be feeling a great relief to have finally done it and know that you are okay. Even if you had tested positive, the peace of mind would probably be better than constantly wondering.

 

I know the Whitman-Walker clinic here in DC will give anonymous testing to anyone who just walks in, and I guess most gay health clinics would do the same. What did you mean by a "full battery of tests"? Did you mean for all stds as well as the HIV test? What type of HIV test did they do. The swab test alone is not very accurate as a mild infection of any kind could give a false reading and I hope they drew blood for the HIV test. A friend of mine had the swab test which came back inconclusive but indicated possibility of infection and when he had the full battery of blood tests they came back negative.

 

My own personal choice would be to follow up with a regular doctor who specializes in infectious diseases as they are more up to date with the latest testing techniques, but then again I'm not in your situation as a bisexual married man.

 

I am not putting down public health clinics, although I probably should based on my personal experience, which I won't go into. Being tested is a legitimate charge that an insurance company isn't going to single out in any way, so why not just get the best?

[jackhammer91406]

Good for you Uncle Bill.

Since I have only been active for the past 10 months after an 18 year recluse period, I hadn't really thought about getting tested until I was planning my NYC trip. I have, as you all know, been spending a lot of time in DR.'s offices during this past year and when I was there in January I told my doctor of my up coming trip and it's purpose (to get laid as many times as I could in 7 days) I asked him to arrange the full battery of tests, including blood work and when the expected results came back (negative) I was relieved but felt good about the testing. i then scheduled the various Hep shots so that when I went to NY, I was as clean as possible. It really took any fear out of my trip. I agree that everyone should be tested as often as your individual sex life would indicate.

Thanks for this thread Uncle Bill. Good job.

 

 

 

[OneFinger]

I've been a volunteer with AIDS-related organizations for many years. In my state, Utah, you have the legal option of being tested under your own name or anomously.

 

I can't tell you the number of times someone has come in to be tested using the name Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Ronald Reagan, etc. The workers I've known would never question the identity you provided.

 

I go along with their suggestion that you remember the info you give and use it each time you go in for testing. Helps cut down on the paperwork.

 

I prefer to be tested at places OTHER THAN my regular doctor. That way I know there is no paper trail of being tested which could affect future health or life insurance.

 

However, if I should ever test positive, I would immediately contact my own doctor and get the best possible health care. But, until that happens, I don't want anything in my medical records to indicate that I've been tested.

[Flower]

[font color ="green"

] Good post UB--Likewise, San Francisco has the CITY Clinic on 7th street and for $10, I can regularly get the full battery of tests, and one of time when I went in with a sore throat they have allowed me to elect to take the full battery of meds--including the yukky stuff you drink and the shot of antibiotics, the combination of which will kill any STD you could have}(

 

I wouldn't take the meds since it's not good for you to take antibiotics too often, but since I live inconveniently far from SF, I did it once, only to find out later that they were unnecessary But better safe than sorry.

 

Anyway, STD clinics are so much better prepared for dealing with this stuff, including making you feel comfortable. One time the female NP (nurse practitioner) was sticking a cotton swap up my ass and at the same time telling me not to fuck without condoms but I can suck all the cock I want without one }( Then a different nurse, while giving me the shot in another room, said because of my sore throat, I shouldn't suck dick for a few days until it had disappeared LOL They were so nonchalant about it, making me quite cmfortable.

 

This was in contrast to the local walk-in med clinic where I live where I had to tell the doc what the internet said the symptoms might be and the drugs and doesages LOL Oh wellllllllllllll

 

And you are right, they NEVER check ID and are fine with a pseudonym making them completely annonymous:+

[Guest Harry Bitsch]

Good for you, UB! And congrats on the results!

 

I'd like to point out that AIM (and Whitman-Walker, and GMHC, and most clinic-operating agencies) exist in large part thanks to charitable contributions.

 

Crack open the checkbook. And it doesn't have to be a direct contribution. Go to an AIDS fundraiser from time to time. The upcoming Bad Boys Pool Party (badboyspoolparty.com) is a major fundraiser for LA Shanti, another worthy charity.

 

Pick your favorite local charity, and contribute once in a while. Even a small contribution can make a HUGE difference to someone's quality of life.

 

They gave you peace of mind. Help them give it to someone else.

 

Think of it as a random act of kindness.

[Uncle Bill]

This particular organization is totally focused on STD's and seems well run and up-to-date, but I hear you about using clinics (it's the only practical solution for me).

 

The HIV test was a blood test -- "PCR/DNA" (apparently, it's pretty accurate and can detect infections that occur up to 14 days before the test (e.g., it won't detect it if you contracted the virus 1-14 days before the test, but I guess that's a big improvement in terms of making the results "curent"), and they had the results by the end of the next business day. Cost at AIM is $85.

 

They also have an "everything" battery of tests that I took which goes after the "top" STD's, incl. Hep B, and is based on blood tests and a urine sample. It takes a couple days for the results on most of these, but the Hep B results take more like 4-5 business days. These tests cost $100 as a package.

 

Now that I've been "cleared" of Hep B, I'll go get the immunization shots. I also plan to get tested on a regular basis now -- it's quick and easy and didn't cost any more than an hour with an escort (although I have to admit that it wasn't as much fun as that).

[VaHawk]

FABULOUS!! I hear you man!

[Uncle Bill]

I'm glad you mentioned that. I was a bit out of my element when I was at the clinic, but I did make a small donation as well as paying the stated fee for the tests. They seemed very appreciative of that, and I'm sure that even small donations add up quickly for them.

[+ deej]

I actually have an Uncle Bill, and he's just as cool as you seem to be.

 

He's only 5 years older than me and family members roll their eyes when we get together because we'll typically drive out into the CO mountains and kill a 12-pack between us.

 

And then show up with goofy grins after.

 

Brava!

 

You did all of us proud.

[Flower]

[font color = "blue"

]

>My own personal choice would be to follow up with a regular

>doctor who specializes in infectious diseases as they are more

>up to date with the latest testing techniques,

[font color = "green"

]

Actually, Hawk, these specialty clinics (state, federal or city funded) are the best there is for most practical STD purposes--especially for diagnostics and treatment.

 

That's all these people do day in and day out--very, very few private physicians can match the concentration of cases and the consumption of up to the minute knowledge that a clinic specializing in ONLY STDs can. I have represented docs and hospitals in aids discrimination and treatment cases and they have confirmed this. They know their stuff. It wasn't the small fee of $10 that brought me to the SF clinic, but the recommendation of health care professionals I trust.

 

 

[font color = "blue"

]

> Being tested is a legitimate charge that an

>insurance company isn't going to single out in any way, so why

>not just get the best?

>

[font color = "green"

]

You are letter perfect as to what the law says in most states, but not as to how it is applied by many Insurance companies.

 

Once you test positive (on the record) for HIV for instance, you will never be able to get life insurance again. Personally, anonymous testing is the ONLY way to go -- usually after testing positive, the new thinking for health care HIV specialists is not to start meds until your immune system starts weakening--that can be a few years from early diagnosis in many cases. In the mean time, if you have no test result on record, nor the purchase of prescription meds, you can still buy life insurance AND health insurance, although many states allow testing by life insurance companies and carriers will test if you are applying for limits over their threshold policies. You of course have to say you've never tested positive, so that's a personal choice each has to make.

 

One other thing, once you have a bunch of STD testing on your health insurance history, despite coming through clean each time, if you want to change plans for some reason, you could be excluded based on having a "life style requiring frequent testing" and thus being incompatible with that companies criteria for accepting new insured.

 

Not necessarily right, but it's done. Just some stuff to think about :+

[milkman]

Glad you went and did it, Uncle Bill, and that you got good results. Everybody should do it.

 

>Pure fear -- not of the

>diseases themselves, but of someone finding out that I was

>getting tested. I was also afraid that there would be some

>record that gets to my insurance company (and thereby possibly

>to my employer) both about being tested, and, heaven forbid,

>being positive if the test turned out that way. I'm heavily

>closeted and more than a bit paranoid about being found out

 

To any others who may be back at the stage Uncle Bill was before:

 

In any large metropolitan area and probably in some smaller places too the county health department usually runs an STD clinic. It may be housed together with a more general clinic in the same building, but it is specifically for STDs. Those clinics are available to ANYONE, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, and NO ATTITUDE, either free or at very nominal cost (like $5 or $10 for a whole battery of tests). And they know much more about STDs than other clinics or most private doctors.

 

Usually you don't have to live in that city or in that county to use the clinic. Many of them offer ANONYMOUS AIDS testing (so they even TELL you to make up a fake name). Testing for other things and also AIDS testing is available on a CONFIDENTIAL basis (they record the name but it's supposed to stay confidential - but we know that sometimes that may not happen). However, I have been to some and I know people who have been to others, and nobody I know of was ever asked to produce an ID. Just prepare a fake name and address and date of birth in advance, and write them down so that you can check on your results later. The form may ask for a Social Security number too but you can say that you prefer not to give it (there's a federal law that it cannot be required). The only reason they want that is for positive ID when you get your results, but you can do it with just name/address and date of birth.

 

>I stared at the pages for a while and went back to the counter

>to say that I really didn't want to supply all of this info,

>and they said, quite casually, "Oh, you can do it anonymously

>if you want. Just make up a name, birth date and driver's

>license number, and sign the forms with that name. Oh, and be

>sure to remember the name you pick so that you don't have any

>problems when you call back for the results."

 

This was also my experience and the experience of many others. The people who work there know the score, and their interest is in getting people tested - and if necessary treated - so they are very nonchalant about telling you to make something up.

[VaHawk]

>Actually, Hawk, these specialty clinics (state, federal or

>city funded) are the best there is for most practical STD

>purposes--especially for diagnostics and treatment.

 

Hey Flower, you're an attorney and I'm not, so if I get out of line in any way just let me know, no hard feelings.

 

I disagree with this statement. My friend, who is fluent in French and spends half the year in Paris, went to Whitman Walker clinic here in DC and asked about testing that is well known outside the U.S. and developed in France and was told "point blank" that they don't reveal that to the public because such tests have not been approved by the U.S.F.D.A.

 

Perhaps your point is valid as far as STD, but I doubt it as far as HIV testing goes, and is what my point above refers to, so if I misread I apologize.

 

As far as public clinics go, I don't trust them period. I base that mistrust on my personal experience, which I didn't want to go into but, what the heck I will. I have had veneral disease only once in my life, way back in 1982. I went to the Whitman Walker clinic here in DC to get tested because I could tell something wasn't right. The doctor who tested me, called about a week later and told me all the tests were negative and I was fine. Cool, okay. I go on my merry little sexual way. Imagine my surprise when 4 months later the same doctor calls me at work and tells me that I have syphilis. Seems that the Whitman Walker clinic and he had problems, he was dismissed and for legal reasons his files were not released to him until this time. Well, damn, imagine my embarassment in having to call those who I knew that I had sex with and telling them to get tested, not counting those I had sex with not knowing who they were and how to contact them and how many others they in turn, spread it to. I guess I should have hired an attorney and sued!

 

>That's all these people do day in and day out--very, very few

>private physicians can match the concentration of cases and

>the consumption of up to the minute knowledge that a clinic

>specializing in ONLY STDs can. I have represented docs and

>hospitals in aids discrimination and treatment cases and they

>have confirmed this. They know their stuff. It wasn't the

>small fee of $10 that brought me to the SF clinic, but the

>recommendation of health care professionals I trust.

 

Perhaps, but I was not referring to a general practioner. I would rather trust an infectious diseases specialist. I have never believed that quantity equated to quality. Let's see, you have a highly recommended infectious diseases doctor, up to date on all the latest tests and treatments, who sees a few patients of this type a week, versus a public clinic where the staff is lower paid and overworked in an assembly line environment? When it comes to my health and life, the personal care and expertise more than makes up for the personal expense.

 

>Once you test positive (on the record) for HIV for instance,

>you will never be able to get life insurance again.

 

Not necessarily true. I have both life and health insurance from a group employer plan. This may be true if one is seeking individual health/life insurance at their own expense outside of the work environment.

 

>Personally, anonymous testing is the ONLY way to go -- usually

>after testing positive, the new thinking for health care HIV

>specialists is not to start meds until your immune system

>starts weakening--that can be a few years from early diagnosis

>in many cases. In the mean time, if you have no test result

>on record, nor the purchase of prescription meds, you can

>still buy life insurance AND health insurance, although many

>states allow testing by life insurance companies and carriers

>will test if you are applying for limits over their threshold

>policies.

 

Where do you get your medical info? Whenever you have HIV, your immune system starts weakening which is why you should see an infectious diseases specialist. Not only can a specialist run the correct tests to identify the particular strain an individual has, but he can proscribe the correct tests that will show what drugs and/or combo of drugs will work for the infected patient. This is what I was referring to as the "full battery" of HIV testing. Your point about life/health insurance is probably correct, but I still have a $100,000 individual life insurance policy from 1990, that I pay $38/month for as this is the most I could get without submitting to a physical.

 

>

>One other thing, once you have a bunch of STD testing on your

>health insurance history, despite coming through clean each

>time, if you want to change plans for some reason, you could

>be excluded based on having a "life style requiring frequent

>testing" and thus being incompatible with that companies

>criteria for accepting new insured.

 

I can't comment on this, as I have no individual health insurance, only a PPO from the employer, and they always cover my testing without question or penalty.

[Flower]

[font color="blue"

]

>I disagree with this statement. My friend, who is fluent in

>French and spends half the year in Paris, went to Whitman

>Walker clinic here in DC and asked about testing that is well

>known outside the U.S. and developed in France and was told

>"point blank" that they don't reveal that to the public

>because such tests have not been approved by the U.S.F.D.A.

 

[font color="green"

]I think this is a very differnent issue. I'm not aware of even a private doc being able to prescribe regimines not FDA approved unless on an approved "experimental" basis. But to give information re: non-approved tests seems harmless enough AND not to do so seems typical for our government--still, however, not what I percieved the topic to be.

[font color="blue"

]

>Perhaps your point is valid as far as STD, but I doubt it as

>far as HIV testing goes, and is what my point above refers to,

>so if I misread I apologize.

[font color="green"

]

I think my point is especially valid for HIV--but again, it has to be a clinic funded for HIV treatment--this is a specialty onto itself, as you know.

 

[font color="blue"

]

>As far as public clinics go, I don't trust them period. I

>base that mistrust on my personal experience, which I didn't

>want to go into but, what the heck I will. I have had veneral

>disease only once in my life, way back in 1982.

[font color="green"

]

I wouldn't judge today's clinics by an unfortunate experience occurring 20 years ago--again, I'm NOT talking of the small "walk-in-treat-everything" clinic--I'm talking about regionally designated STD clinics--for instatnce the county and city health departments in all California cities--but the biger, more metropolitqan cities have the best. You are in DC--I just read that, so you have SPECIALISTS available to you and I can see why you would prefer that as oppossed to a clinic setting, but the SF clinic I go to is regarded as one of the best state wide--for all std's including HIV. I would go there even if I had to pay the going rate--in fact with my donation, I usually pay more--but they are very well regarded, Maybe i made an over generalization I shouldn't have, but in the STD world, most of these clinics are tops. I have a friend high up in CDC that confirms.

 

>>Once you test positive (on the record) for HIV for instance,

>>you will never be able to get life insurance again.

[font color="blue"

]

>Not necessarily true. I have both life and health insurance

>from a group employer plan. This may be true if one is

>seeking individual health/life insurance at their own expense

>outside of the work environment.

[font color="green"

]

Well a group health plan is the only exception--you're right there, but you will not get any more coverage than you had at the time you tested positive.

[font color="blue"

]

>Where do you get your medical info? Whenever you have HIV,

>your immune system starts weakening which is why you should

>see an infectious diseases specialist. Not only can a

>specialist run the correct tests to identify the particular

>strain an individual has, but he can proscribe the correct

>tests that will show what drugs and/or combo of drugs will

>work for the infected patient. This is what I was referring

>to as the "full battery" of HIV testing. Your point about

>life/health insurance is probably correct, but I still have a

>$100,000 individual life insurance policy from 1990, that I

>pay $38/month for as this is the most I could get without

>submitting to a physical.

[font color="green"

]>>

 

BELIEVE ME, I get my information from state of the art practicioners. For instance, the latest JAMA article on the subject depossed the older view of taking meds right away. Upon sero-conversion, the immune system takes a big hit then usually bounces back in aces in an otherwise healthy person--they will then take monthly to quarterly blood tests to check for viral load and as long as the immune system is keeping it in check, they will hold off meds since the meds can only be tolerated for so long, varying with individuals--so they want to maximize the TOTAL length of time both your immune system and the meds can be fighting the virus.

 

True, there are still practicioners that advocate medicate ASAP, but this is now the old and disfavored view. As far as what specialty, I'd choose a doc who SPECIALIZES just in HIV--whether inturnist, ID doc or whatever--and they have them, as oppossed to an infectious disease doc who works all kinds of infectious diseases.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

What To Test For

 

It is important to be tested for certain things even if you have no symptons and are always practicing risk reduction behavior and safer sex. The current staph infection which is going around can be transimitted through skin contact in a moisture filled environment (in other words, simply by showering in a gym without "flip flops" on). It is a simple blood test and as I was just in San Francisco and am going in for my regular work up, I am going to specifically request this test. I get tested regularly for syphilis (another simple blood test), for example, which many STD clinics would now check for, but others may not. Many men who have been sexually active with other men may have the markers and antibodies for Hepatitis A or B and thus being immunized is not possible. You may have these markers without ever being sick. It just means at one time you were exposed and is nothing to be concerned of. However, you can not be immunized against Hepatitis C: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/c/faq.htm

 

If you are sexually active, you should make sure at some point to have your throat checked by culture even if you have no symptoms. Often doctors are reluquent to do so, especially if they do not know you have sex with men. Unless you are engaging in unprotected anal sex, it is not necessary to have that part of your body cultured, but this is also something doctors would not routinely do (it also may not be possible to determine if you are infected there as there are rarely symptoms). You should definitely have that area checked, along with your routine prostate exam. If you have an understanding gay doctors and live in a large urban area and enage in receptive anal intercourse, I would consider having what is called an anal pap smear. You could also have this done off your insurance, by an MD not your own, although do inquire what experience he or she may have in performing this simple procedure. Large urban areas would be an excellent place for a bisexual or straight man who bottoms to have this done: http://focus.hms.harvard.edu/2000/Jun9_2000/research_briefs.html

 

Finally, these issues have been discussed here, it really is important that everyone, escort, client or simply a sexually active gay or bisexual men, be informed about their body and sexuality. A really great site is http://www.ageis.com which has a simple to use search engine.

 

Congratulation on your negative test results! Please continue to test yourself regularly, for your sake, the sake of your partners and your family members.

[+ Billsboy4]

Uncle Bill, good for you for getting tested. For those of us who can't afford to pay, I'd recommend the Valley Community Clinic in the Los Angeles Area (http://www.valleyclinic.org). I've been tested there many times....it's free and anonymous (although I give a donation). The staff is great and the clients are eclectic, so there's no stigma attached to going in there. They also test for STDs and while they have to ask for a name, you can make one up.

[Guest pshaw]

To be fair, VaHawk, the Whitman-Walker Clinic of 2003 is quite a bit different from the WWC of 1982. I first got tested at WWC when it was still in the basement of a school a school building in Georgetown. (Then it may have still have been going by the name Gay Men's Free Clinic.) Today WWC now has its large, top-notch Elizabeth Taylor facility on 14th Street. The quality of the professionalism of both volunteer and salaried staff is much different (for the better) from those earlier days. WWC is probably the go-to HIV/AIDS service provider in DC, much like GMHC in New York.

 

Shifting a bit, I know that many of the Planned Parenthoods in the DC area, and presumably elsewhere, provide HIV and STD testing services.

[gregkidman]

>Uncle Bill, good for you for getting tested. For those of us

>who can't afford to pay, I'd recommend the Valley Community

>Clinic in the Los Angeles Area (http://www.valleyclinic.org).

 

 

Any recommendations for a clinic in Manhattan?

 

Cheers,

Greg

[+ Lucky]

RE: Testing for HIV/STD's

 

If you can find an eight-month old thread, you would probably be able to find an HIV testing site in Manhattan!

(Note smiley face!)

 

Anyway, GMHC does HIV testing. It is on 24th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

[Guest BenAJ]

the clinics in chelsea supposedly have long lines (as you would expect).

The city has free, anonymous testing clinics...one in chelsea and one on the upper westside (this one is not as crowded and if you get there early it is fast). Of course, you don't get the results right away (I think you have to wait a week...

 

Riverside Clinic (between Columbus Ave & Amsterdam)

160 W. 100th Street

212-865-7757

8:30AM- 2:30 PM

 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/std/stdfree.html

[Guest]

>Once you test positive (on the record) for HIV for instance,

>you will never be able to get life insurance again.

 

It doesn't matter whether you test or not. All legitimate life and disability insurance companies test for HIV prior to underwriting their policies. Whether you've been tested before anonymously or nonymously ;-) or not at all, you will be tested before being issued a policy, and if you're HIV + you can forget about it.

[Flower]

>Being tested is a legitimate charge that an

>insurance company isn't going to single out in any way, so why

>not just get the best?

>

While in theory, you are correct and if you were talking about being tested for diabetes or something less inflammatory to insurance companies, I'd agree. BUT, I guarantee you that if you come back positive on an HIV test, you will NEVER be able to buy any life insurance, nor get health coverage from any other source, unless your state has special legislation regarding group health insurance similar to Calif. But even the, you have to go from one job to the next within 30 days in order to keep your coverage. Just having the testing in your file will could be prejudicial--especially hiv testing, but regualar STD testing will be a red flag to insurance companies re future coverage -- medical and life. I'm not talking what is legal, just what in reality may and does happen a lot.

 

Testing at most STD clinics is as good as any, and for that matter, better than most, and there is free but if you can afford it, try and make a donation. For instance the 7th Street clinic in SF is free in indigent or $10 if not, but great donations appreciated. They are reputed to be one of the best around. So why risk the loss of medical coverage and denial of future insurance--life, medical and maybe other biases which that information may lead to. Just pay the $ out of pocket. You can also get self tests in most drugstores or mail order--they are supposed to be just as reliable as those done in a clinic or DR's office, but that's just what I've read on the Internet

[Argos]

I have been tested several times at AIM. They are a friendly, professional group of men and women. I usually visit the location in Woodland Hills. It is newer and the parking is much more convenient that the parking in Sherman Oaks.

[Argos]

I have been tested several times at AIM. They are a friendly, professional group of men and women. I usually visit the location in Woodland Hills. It is newer and the parking is much more convenient that the parking in Sherman Oaks.

[JamesK840]

How much did the full battery of tests cost (at AIM), and how much for Hep vaccine? How many return trips for the vaccine?