HIV Testing

What is HIV / Aids?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV breaks down the immune system, making it harder to fight off infections. People who are infected with HIV become sick with infections that normally wouldn’t affect them.

When somebody gets tested positive for HIV, this does not automatically mean that they already have AIDS. AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. It can take years before the signs of HIV show up. The only way you can be sure that you are not infected is by getting tested. Nowadays there is medication that can keep the quality of life of people who are HIV positive at a good level for a long time.

In the U.S. about 1.1 million people are living with HIV. About 40,000 people in the U.S. will get infected with HIV every year.

Are there signs or symptoms?

Many people with HIV have no symptoms. It can take more than 10 years to develop symptoms. Symptoms that may occur shortly after the infection are swollen glands, slight fever, headaches, tiredness and muscle pain. These usually last no more than a few weeks. After this then there are generally no HIV symptoms for many years.

How can I get tested for HIV?

You can come into our facility and our friendly, expertly trained medical assistant will gently draw your blood and we will send it out to the lab. Most results will be back within 24-48 hours. HIV test results always have to be picked up in person.

Any Lab Test Now®, now also offers a Rapid HIV Test and results are instantly available within 15 minutes.

Is there a cure or treatment?

Currently there is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS, but there are treatments for people who have HIV/AIDS. Thanks to these treatments, people are now able to live for many years with HIV/AIDS. The treatments consist of combinations of medicines called “cocktails” and will strengthen your immune system. They do not work for everyone and may cause side effects. New research is still being done and new treatments are constantly being developed that will help people with HIV/AIDS live even longer.