The only sure way to tell if you have HIV is to get an HIV test, either a blood test or an oral fluid test, which takes a swab from the inside of the mouth.
• An anonymous HIV test is when you do not give your name. You are given an ID number to get your results.
• A confidential HIV test means you give your name when you are tested. Your test results become part of your private health record.
• In some places you can get a rapid HIV test and get results on the same day. If your test shows that you might have HIV, you will need a second test to learn for sure if you have HIV.
Any person, no matter what age, can be tested if he or she understands:
• what the test is for;
• what the test result means; and
• the types of care and treatment for people who test positive for HIV.
Before the test, an HIV test counselor or health care provider will make sure that the person getting tested understands these three points. Taking the test can be a hard choice for a young person. Try to support your child’s choice and offer help.
Some clinics offer free, anonymous HIV tests. Many local health department clinics, community health centers, hospitals, family planning clinics, and doctors offer confidential HIV tests.
