When someone picks up HIV, their blood will react to the virus and make chemicals called antibodies, usually within about three months.
The HIV test involves taking a small sample of blood and then testing for these antibodies in the laboratory.
If the antibodies are found, the result will say that the person is HIV (antibody) positive. This means the person has got HIV. It does not mean the person has AIDS or is ill.
If no antibodies are found, the result will say HIV (antibody) negative. This means the person had not picked up HIV in all their life up till three months before the time they took the test. Everyone who attends this clinic is offered an HIV test.
The HIV test is a simple, routine blood test. Everyone should test for HIV - we test everyone for HIV unless you ask us not to.
HIV testing is available at any of our clinic sessions and results are ready in a week. Same-day HIV testing is available by appointment on Thursday mornings. In this case, results are ready by late afternoon.
It normally takes four working days for the HIV result to come in. Your results can be texted to you or will be passed on to you by a health adviser, who will offer additional information and help you decide how you wish to receive your result.
If you have had unprotected sex in the last three months, then there is a chance you could have HIV, even though the result is negative.
This is because you could have picked up HIV but there was not enough time for the antibodies to appear by the time you took the test.
In this case we will need to do further tests to confirm the result, as well as starting some investigations, including measuring the number of CD4 cells and the amount of HIV in the person's blood - the viral load.
Rarely the laboratory will tell us that the results do not clearly say whether the test is positive or negative. In this case we will need to do further blood tests to try to clarify the situation.
Your clinic notes are protected by the Venereal Diseases Acts. Information is not given to anyone outside the clinic without signed consent. If you test HIV antibody positive it is your choice whom you inform and when.
What about life insurance and mortgages?
The Association of British Insurers recommends its member companies not to ask, when someone is applying for life insurance, if he/she has had an HIV test, but only to inquire if someone knows they are HIV positive. Thus most people who have had a test and are negative will be able to truthfully answer, 'No', without saying whether they have had a test or not.
If the test is being done for individual health reasons it is completely free, but we do not issue a written copy of the result.
However, we make a charge if the test is for 'official reasons', and you ask us to provide a letter or certificate. This might be to support an application for a travel visa, occupational risks or life insurance, or if it has been requested by a private health doctor, then a charge of £30 per test is made.
