When was the last time you had an HIV test?

You should be tested at least once to find out your HIV status. Ask your doctor or nurse if and when you need the test again. All pregnant women should be tested for HIV. All other women should be tested at least once to find out your HIV status.

You should be tested more often if you are at higher risk of HIV infection. You are at higher risk if you:

• Having unprotected sex with more than one partner
• Injecting drugs, either now or in the past
• Having sex with someone to get money or drugs in return, or having sex with someone who has traded sex for money or drugs
• Having sex, now or in the past, with someone who has HIV, is bisexual, or injects drugs
• Having another sexually transmitted infection (STI)
• If you had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985

Remember, these are not the only ways to get HIV, and are not the only reasons to get tested. All people should know their HIV status. But many do not. Many new HIV infections are caused by people unaware that they are infected. It can take between two weeks and three months after infection for HIV antibodies to be found in your blood. So, it may take up to three months for an HIV test to be positive if you were very recently infected.

It is important to know your HIV status for these reasons:

• Many new HIV infections are caused by people unaware that they are infected.
• HIV medicines are more effective if you start them early.
• Starting treatment early can mean the best health for you and a longer time before you develop AIDS or other infections. Unfortunately, most people do not find out they have HIV until the disease is at advanced stages. This limits the treatment options.