Rapid HIV Testing and Counseling

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus that slowly breaks down and damages the body’s immune system. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS is caused by HIV and makes the body vulnerable to life-threatening illnesses.

Health Quarters provides both confidential and anonymous FREE rapid HIV testing. Confidential HIV testing means that you and your health care provider know your results and it is documented in your private medical file. Anonymous testing means that no name is involved and all record keeping is done by a code number.

For a rapid HIV test, a small sample of cells will be taken from your mouth (oral swab) or blood will be taken from your finger (finger-stick). The test results from a rapid test are usually available in approximately 20 minutes, as these tests do not require outside laboratory facilities. If the result is positive, a blood sample is taken and sent to a lab for confirmation, however a negative test is completely negative and does not need to be confirmed.

We also offer an HIV blood draw in which a sample of blood will be taken from your arm, sent to the laboratory and tested. It can take from five days to a week or longer to get your test result back.

At Health Quarters, we offer pre- and post-test counseling to help you deal with the issues that surround your decision to test and the impact of knowing your HIV status.

Our counselors are trained to give HIV test results and are able to support you if the result is positive. They will refer you to community resources and help identify people you can go to for personal support. They will also be able to answer questions and help you learn more about HIV. Whether your result is positive or negative, they will offer you information about safer sex practices, so you can prevent the spread of HIV and other STDs in the future.