Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Test

How To Prepare

No special preparation is needed before having this test.

A test for HIV infection cannot be done without your consent. Most health professionals offer counseling before and after the test to discuss:

• How the test is done, what the results mean, and any other tests that may be done.
• How the diagnosis of an HIV infection may affect your social, emotional, professional, and financial outlooks.
• The benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.

Before the test, it is important to tell your health professional how and where to contact you when your test results are ready. If your health professional has not contacted you within 1 to 2 weeks of your test, call and ask for your results.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: March 1, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
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