14%
of Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their status.
The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Read below to learn about how HIV testing works and where to find testing services in your community.
of Canadians living with HIV are unaware of their status.
The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Read below to learn about how HIV testing works and where to find testing services in your community.
What is an HIV test?
An HIV test is a blood test. It can be completed in one of two ways:
1. Rapid tests, also known as "point of care" tests, offer results within minutes after blood is taken, usually from a finger prick.
2. Standard tests involve blood being taken from a vein in the arm. The blood is then sent to a lab for testing. Results take around two weeks.
1. Rapid tests, also known as "point of care" tests, offer results within minutes after blood is taken, usually from a finger prick.
2. Standard tests involve blood being taken from a vein in the arm. The blood is then sent to a lab for testing. Results take around two weeks.
If I think I might have HIV, when should I get tested?
How soon you should get tested for HIV depends on what kind of HIV test is used by your clinic or service provider. If you're unsure, it's best to go get tested and then speak with the nurse or service provider about when to return for a re-test, if necessary.
The rapid HIV test looks for HIV antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your body produces to fight bacteria and viruses. Once produced, antibodies will remain detectable for life. It takes some time for the body to produce enough antibodies to be detectable on rapid tests. Rapid HIV tests in Canada can detect antibodies in 99% of people 3 months after exposure to HIV. This is known as the window period for rapid HIV tests. For rapid tests, being tested at 3 months after exposure gives the most accurate results.
The standard HIV test looks for HIV antibodies and another marker of HIV known as the p24 antigen. Unlike antibodies, the p24 antigen levels peak in the first few weeks of infection. By five to six weeks after infection, levels of p24 antigen are no longer detectable. At one and a half months after infection, the standard HIV test detects HIV in 99% of the population. This is the window period for standard HIV tests.
The rapid HIV test looks for HIV antibodies. Antibodies are proteins that your body produces to fight bacteria and viruses. Once produced, antibodies will remain detectable for life. It takes some time for the body to produce enough antibodies to be detectable on rapid tests. Rapid HIV tests in Canada can detect antibodies in 99% of people 3 months after exposure to HIV. This is known as the window period for rapid HIV tests. For rapid tests, being tested at 3 months after exposure gives the most accurate results.
The standard HIV test looks for HIV antibodies and another marker of HIV known as the p24 antigen. Unlike antibodies, the p24 antigen levels peak in the first few weeks of infection. By five to six weeks after infection, levels of p24 antigen are no longer detectable. At one and a half months after infection, the standard HIV test detects HIV in 99% of the population. This is the window period for standard HIV tests.
Is HIV testing anonymous?
It is sometimes. It depends on where you are being tested.
If you ask your family doctor for an HIV test, the test will probably be ordered using your name. This is called nominal testing. Nominal testing is available from hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers across Canada. With nominal testing, your result…
• Will not be anonymous
• Will be shared with public health using your name if it is positive
• Will be documented in your healthcare record if it is positive.
There is also an option called non-nominal testing, which is available across Canada in hospitals and clinics. With this option, the HIV test is ordered using a code or your initials, not your name.
With non-nominal testing, your result…
• May be anonymous
• Will be shared with public health, but possibly with your name (it depends on the province/territory)
• Will be documented in your healthcare record
Finally, there is anonymous testing. Anonymous testing is only available in some provinces or territories, usually in specialized or community-based venues. If you get an anonymous HIV test, you do not need to provide your name. The test is ordered using a special code that is not linked to your identity.
With anonymous testing, your result…
• Will be anonymous
• Will be shared with public health if the result is positive, but without your name or contact information
• Will not be documented in your personal healthcare records
If you ask your family doctor for an HIV test, the test will probably be ordered using your name. This is called nominal testing. Nominal testing is available from hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers across Canada. With nominal testing, your result…
• Will not be anonymous
• Will be shared with public health using your name if it is positive
• Will be documented in your healthcare record if it is positive.
There is also an option called non-nominal testing, which is available across Canada in hospitals and clinics. With this option, the HIV test is ordered using a code or your initials, not your name.
With non-nominal testing, your result…
• May be anonymous
• Will be shared with public health, but possibly with your name (it depends on the province/territory)
• Will be documented in your healthcare record
Finally, there is anonymous testing. Anonymous testing is only available in some provinces or territories, usually in specialized or community-based venues. If you get an anonymous HIV test, you do not need to provide your name. The test is ordered using a special code that is not linked to your identity.
With anonymous testing, your result…
• Will be anonymous
• Will be shared with public health if the result is positive, but without your name or contact information
• Will not be documented in your personal healthcare records
What happens when I go get my test?
Before getting any HIV test, the provider will offer you pre-test counseling. During pre-test counseling, the provider will ask you about your sexual history, explain the testing process, and discuss modes of transmission of HIV and other STI (sexually transmitted infections). At this time, you can ask about confidentiality, anonymity, and the kind of test you will be given.
All of HIV testing is based upon informed consent. The provider should only test for HIV if you have given explicit, informed, and voluntary consent. This means that in order to be tested, the nurse or care provider must ensure that you can interpret the meaning of the results.
All of HIV testing is based upon informed consent. The provider should only test for HIV if you have given explicit, informed, and voluntary consent. This means that in order to be tested, the nurse or care provider must ensure that you can interpret the meaning of the results.
What happens after my test?
What happens after your test depends on what kind of test was used:
• If you test negative on a rapid test, the provider will discuss and offer resources on sexual health and harm reduction.
• If you test positive on a rapid test, the provider will offer post-test counseling to allow you to ask questions and support you with dealing with the news. They will also explain to you that you will need to have blood drawn to be sent to a lab to confirm the results.
• If you test negative on a standard test, you will likely not hear back from the provider.
• If you test positive on a standard test, you will get a call to schedule an appointment to discuss your results. The provider will offer post-test counseling, during which the provider will explain the results, support you with dealing with the news, and provider resources and referrals so that you are linked to appropriate treatment and care.
To learn more about HIV treatment, click here.
• If you test negative on a rapid test, the provider will discuss and offer resources on sexual health and harm reduction.
• If you test positive on a rapid test, the provider will offer post-test counseling to allow you to ask questions and support you with dealing with the news. They will also explain to you that you will need to have blood drawn to be sent to a lab to confirm the results.
• If you test negative on a standard test, you will likely not hear back from the provider.
• If you test positive on a standard test, you will get a call to schedule an appointment to discuss your results. The provider will offer post-test counseling, during which the provider will explain the results, support you with dealing with the news, and provider resources and referrals so that you are linked to appropriate treatment and care.
To learn more about HIV treatment, click here.
