How soon after taking a risk can I test?

Most clinics advise people who have recently taken a risk to test immediately, and believe that it is unhelpful to ask people to put off testing until later. If people are concerned about a very recent risk they have taken, they may be motivated to test now. If they are asked to wait, the issue may slip from their mind.

Antibody/antigen tests can sometimes detect infection just 10 days after infection, and most infections will be detected within a month. So, the clinic should take an initial test straightaway. If the result is negative, the person will usually be asked to return a few weeks later in order to be re-tested.

How long after taking a risk can I be sure that I am HIV-negative?

Although the majority of infections are detected within a month, there are occasional cases when it takes longer. Following an event that would carry a high risk of HIV infection, BASHH recommends a test after eight weeks to be sure.

How often should I test?

BHIVA and BASHH recommend that all gay and bisexual men test for HIV at least once a year, or more often if there is continued risk behaviour. While similar guidance does not exist for African people, NAT (National AIDS Trust) argues that sexually active African people should also test for HIV annually.