Different people have different routines when it comes to where, and how often, they get tested for HIV. You can get a blood test requisition (the paperwork that lets you schedule your test at a blood collection clinic) for an HIV test at your family doctor, a walk-in clinic, an anonymous testing site, or other sexual health clinic.
It’s not unusual to feel nervous about getting an HIV test, especially if you’ve never done it before. If you’re worried about it, finding out you’re HIV-negative might be a relief. If it turns out you’re HIV-positive, it’s OK to be upset — but it’s also good for your health to find out as early as possible so you can get connected to care right away. Getting connected to care and treatment options is the best way to support your health in the long run and to achieve an undetectable HIV viral load.
If you are wondering where to get tested, check out our section Testing in Nova Scotia.
CHECK OUT OUR TESTING CHECKLIST TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT TESTING WE RECOMMEND DOING.
Once your blood test has been taken, they will give you instructions. Typically in Nova Scotia no news is good news (meaning if you don’t hear from them, your test didn’t show that you have HIV), but if you do test positive you can expect to hear back and they will help connect you to your treatment, and talk you through the next steps.
If you are diagnosed with HIV (or an STI) your local public health unit may follow up with a phone call to discuss it with you. They want to make sure that anyone who may have been exposed is aware of the exposure, so they may ask you if you are comfortable contacting them yourself, or if you would like them to do that on your behalf. This is standard practice and is an important way they try to reduce the transmission of HIV and STIs.
This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
You can learn more about where we got this information from at: HSHC, NS Health, SUGAR Health
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references