WELCOME TO GAY MEN’S HEALTH
SCOTLAND’S CHARITY FOR GAY MEN
ABOUT TESTING
An HIV test is a simple blood test to discover whether you have been infected with HIV. It looks for antibodies to the virus in your blood which will only be present if you have HIV.
If you have been infected with HIV up to three months before your test, it is unlikely that your body will have produced enough antibodies for the test to detect.
This three month period is often referred to as the “window period”.
If no antibodies are found the test is said to be “negative”. As long as you could not have been been infected with HIV within the three months before your test was taken, a negative result means you don't have HIV.
However, a negative test result does NOT mean you are immune to HIV and does not protect you from getting HIV in the future.
If you're sexually active and think you may have had unsafe sex you should consider having a test every 6 months.
A “positive” result means you have HIV and could pass it on through unprotected sex, giving blood or sharing injecting needles.
If your result is positive you will be given support and help to find out what to do next, including seeing a doctor to talk about whether taking anti-HIV drugs is appropriate.
To have an HIV test you should contact your local GUM (Genito-Urinary Medicine) clinic. If you choose to have your test at a GUM or specialist sexual health clinic your result will not appear on your GP medical record although, if your test is positive, you will be advised to tell your GP.
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