Should I get tested for HIV? I've been dating my partner and we're monogamous...Am I at risk?
Being in a “committed” relationship is not a guarantee that you aren't at risk. If you have ever had unprotected sex you should get tested.  The Center for Disease Control believes that everyone should know whether or not they are infected with HIV because there are important health benefits to this knowledge. If you are HIV negative, you can take steps to make sure you stay that way. If you have HIV, you can also take precautions to protect yourself and your partners.

What's the most effective HIV testing method?
The most common HIV tests use blood (taken from a vein) to detect HIV infection. Oral Fluid tests use fluids from the mouth (not saliva)  to search for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Urine tests are also available. However, accuracy can be somewhat questionable.

A Rapid HIV Test is a screening test that can provide a person with a test result in 20 minutes. A rapid test use, blood, fluids, and urine. You can check with your local clinic or hospital to see which testing method is available to you.

Where should I go to get tested?

Many places such as hospitals, clinics and HIV nonprofit organizations offer free and confidential HIV screening tests. The CDC has set up a 24 hour hotline number 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) to offer assistance in locating a testing site in your area. You can use our Get Tested box to access the CDC's  database for immediate locations in your area.

If you are located in the Oakland, California area you can contact:
The AIDS Project of the East Bay at (510) 663-7979
or the Downtown Youth Clinic at (510) 869-8400

How often should I get tested?
How often you should get an HIV test depends on your circumstances.
If you have never been tested for HIV, you should be tested at least once.
CDC recommends being tested at least once a year if you do things that can transmit HIV infection. These include:

• injecting drugs or steroids with used injection equipment
• having unprotected sex
• having more than one sex partner since your last HIV test
• having a sex partner who has had other sex partners since your last HIV test.

Overall, you should talk to a health care provider or a licensed physician about how often to get tested for HIV.

What should I do if I test HIV positive?

If you test positive, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment, a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. It is important to know that a positive HIV test should always be confirmed, to be sure that it is a true positive. If your test result is positive, there are a number of important steps you can take immediately to protect your health:

See a doctor, even if you don't feel sick. Try to find a doctor who has experience treating HIV. There are now many new drugs to treat HIV infection. There are important tests, immunizations and drug treatments that can help you maintain good health. It is never too early to start thinking about treatment possibilities.
Have a tuberculosis (TB) test done. You may be infected with TB and not know it. Undetected TB can cause serious illness. TB can be treated successfully if detected early.

Recreational drugs, alcoholic beverages and smoking can weaken your immune system. There are programs available to help you stop. Consider joining a support group for people with HIV infection or finding out about other resources available in your area, such as HIV/AIDS-knowledgeable counselors for one on one therapy. There are also many newsletters available for people living with HIV and AIDS.
There is much you can do to stay healthy. Learning as much as you can is a step in the right direction. Local and/or national resources may be available. Many HIV/AIDS organizations provide services free or on a sliding scale, based on ability to pay.

Call the CDC National AIDS Hotline for more information and referrals at 1-800-342-2437 (English), 1-800-344-7432, (Spanish), or 1-800-243-7889 (TTY).