HIV TESTING

HIV testing is important for preventing the transmission of HIV and for helping people living with HIV start treatment early in order to stay healthy.1,2

WHY IS HIV TESTING IMPORTANT?

HIV testing allows the early detection of HIV, which is important so that individuals can begin HIV treatment as soon as possible. Starting treatment early reduces the likelihood of developing HIV-related illnesses and enables people living with HIV to live long, healthy lives.1

Additionally, getting tested for HIV helps reduce the chances of unknowingly transmitting HIV to others, which plays an important role in keeping others safe.1

The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is by getting tested. This is because some people who contract HIV do not experience any symptoms. If HIV symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, rash, or muscle pain do appear, they can easily be mistaken for other common illnesses. Therefore, you can not rely on symptoms to tell if you have HIV.6

HIV testing during pregnancy

Pregnant women are offered an HIV test as part of their routine antenatal screening.3 This is done to ensure that if they test positive, they can begin HIV treatment as soon as possible.1

HIV treatment during pregnancy is very important for protecting the health of the mother and for preventing the transmission of HIV to the baby - called HIV vertical transmission. Vertical transmission of HIV can occur during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.1,7

WHEN TO GET TESTED FOR HIV

Everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 is recommended to get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime. However, some people should get tested more often, such as those who have sex without condoms or other barrier methods and those who inject drugs. In these cases, regular HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing is recommended. 1,2,8

You should discuss your sexual habits with your healthcare provider to determine how often you should get tested for HIV.1

If you believe you might have been exposed to HIV, you should seek medical advice immediately to find out when to get tested. If potential HIV exposure occurred in the last 3 days (72 hours), you should also discuss post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with your healthcare provider.2,5

PEP is an HIV medication taken after potential exposure to HIV, it prevents the virus from spreading and establishing a permanent infection. For PEP to be effective, it must be started within 72 hours - but ideally within 24 hours - of potential exposure to HIV. It should then be taken for 28 days. PEP should only be used in emergency situations.9

TYPES OF HIV TESTS

There are three types of HIV tests: antibody tests, antigen/antibody tests, and nucleic acid tests (NAT).10 Antigens are foreign substances that trigger an immune response, and antibodies are produced by the immune system to help fight infections, such as HIV.10–12 HIV tests are usually performed using blood, saliva, or urine.10

HIV tests can very accurately detect HIV, but they cannot tell how long you’ve had it or the stage of HIV.1,13

Your healthcare provider will be able to advise on the most appropriate test for you depending on your specific circumstances.1

  • HIV antibody test

    An antibody test detects HIV antibodies in blood or saliva. Most rapid-tests and self-tests are antibody tests. These tests have a window period of 23 to 90 days. Generally, an antibody test that uses blood from the vein can detect HIV sooner than a test that uses blood from a finger prick or saliva.10

  • HIV antigen/antibody test

    An antigen/antibody test detects both antigens and antibodies in your blood. They are the most commonly used and recommended HIV tests. After HIV exposure, antigens show up in the blood sooner than antibodies.1,10

    When an antigen/antibody test is performed in a lab, it has a window period of 18 to 45 days. They are also available as rapid-tests with a window period of 18 to 90 days.10

  • Nucleic acid tests (NAT)

    A NAT detects the HIV virus in a blood sample taken from a vein. It is sometimes called a viral load test because it also measures the quantity of HIV in the blood - known as the viral load. NATs can detect HIV earlier than other tests, with a window period of 10 to 33 days.10

    However, these tests are not usually used for routine screening of HIV unless there is a high likelihood of recent HIV exposure or early symptoms of HIV along with potential exposure.1,10 NATs are mostly used to monitor HIV treatment.1

  • Will a routine blood test detect HIV?

    A routine blood test, such as a complete blood count (CBC), cannot detect HIV. If you wish to get tested for HIV, you will have to request an HIV test.14

    However, a CBC test can indicate early signs of an infection that may warrant further testing.14,15 Potential signs of HIV in a CBC test could be unusual white blood cell counts.15

    For pregnant women, HIV testing is part of their routine antenatal screening.3

How long do HIV test results take?

The time it takes to get an HIV test result depends on the type of test used:2,10

  • Rapid HIV test: within 30 minutes or less using a finger prick or mouth swab.
  • Home HIV self-test kits: home self-test kits can provide results in about 15 minutes, but postal test results will be sent within a week or so.
  • Nucleic acid tests (NAT): typically within a few days or up to a week.
  • Antigen/antibody lab tests: typically within a few days to a week.

HOW AND WHERE TO GET TESTED FOR HIV

There are various places you can go to get tested for HIV, these include:1–3

  • Sexual health clinics.
  • HIV testing centres.
  • Some primary care/GP clinics.
  • Substance use services.
  • Antenatal clinic (for pregnant women).
  • Pharmacies that provide home testing kits.
  • Private clinics that require payment.

These services can be found through online resources, such as an HIV test locator, which helps you find testing locations near you.1,2

HIV self-testing kits are also available to order online if you do not wish to use in-person services. There are two types of self-testing kits: a rapid self-test that can be done entirely at home or a postal self-test, where you collect the blood/saliva sample at home, send it to a lab for testing, and you are then contacted with your results.1,2

HIV testing and results are confidential, meaning your information is kept private. Anonymous testing is also available, so you do not have to give your name to get tested.1,4

How soon can HIV be detected?

How soon HIV can be detected depends on the type of test you take and varies from person to person. No HIV test can detect the virus immediately after exposure because all tests have a 'window period.1 This is the time between potential exposure to HIV and when the test can reliably detect the virus. Window periods vary by test type, ranging from about 10 to 90 days.1,5

UNDERSTANDING YOUR HIV TEST RESULTS

Your HIV test result only reveals your HIV status, not that of your sexual partners.10 It is important that everyone potentially exposed to HIV is tested separately.16

If you test positive

If you have HIV, your test result will be positive.1 After your initial test, you will need a follow-up test to confirm these results.10

Receiving a positive HIV diagnosis can be difficult, however, there is effective HIV treatment called antiretroviral therapy (ART) that means people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives.8,10,16 ART can also reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.16

If you have received a positive HIV diagnosis, you should contact your healthcare provider or HIV clinic as soon as possible to begin treatment.16

If you test negative

If you get tested for HIV within the window period and the result is negative, it does not fully rule out an HIV diagnosis. You might need to take another test after the window period ends to confirm the test results. If the follow-up test result is still negative, it means you do not have HIV, as long as there was no other potential exposure during this time.10 In general, a negative HIV test result three months after possible exposure to the HIV virus means you do not have HIV.2

Following a negative HIV test result, you should discuss HIV prevention methods with your healthcare provider to ensure you stay protected. These include pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms and other barrier methods of protection.1

PrEP are HIV medications taken by HIV-negative individuals to prevent HIV. It is used before potential exposure to HIV. PrEP is recommended for people who have a higher likelihood of acquiring HIV. It comes in different forms: a daily pill, an on-demand pill, or a long-acting injectable (LAI) given by a doctor several times a year. Talk to your healthcare provider about which option is best for you.17,18

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Abbreviations:

ART, antiretroviral therapy; CBC, complete blood count; GP, general practitioner; NAT, nucleic acid test; PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis; PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis; STI, sexually transmitted infection.

References:

  1. National Institute of Health. HIV Testing | NIH. Available from: https://hivinfo.nih.gov/understanding-hiv/fact-sheets/hiv-testing [Accessed August 2025]
  2. Terrence Higgins Trust. Testing for HIV. Available from: https://www.tht.org.uk/hiv/testing-hiv [Accessed August 2025]
  3. NHS. Overview - HIV and AIDS. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/ [Accessed August 2025]
  4. NUH. HIV. Available from: https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/hiv/ [Accessed August 2025]
  5. HIV.gov. HIV Testing Overview. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/learn-about-hiv-testing/hiv-testing-overview [Accessed August 2025]
  6. HIV.gov. Symptoms of HIV. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/symptoms-of-hiv [Accessed August 2025]
  7. National Institute of Health. Perinatal Transmission | NIH. Available from: https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/glossary/perinatal-transmission [Accessed August 2025]
  8. PubMed. Statpearls. Huynh K, Kahwaji CI. HIV Testing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482145/ [Accessed August 2025]
  9. HIV.GOV. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/post-exposure-prophylaxis [Accessed August 2025]
  10. CDC. HIV Testing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/index.html [Accessed August 2025]
  11. National Institute of Health. Antigen | NIH.Available from: https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/glossary/antigen [Accessed August 2025]
  12. National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Available from: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/antibody [Accessed August 2025]
  13. CDC. HIV Testing. HIV Public Health Partners. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/hivpartners/php/hiv-testing/index.html [Accessed August 2025]
  14. Vinmec International Hospital. Can a Regular Blood Test Detect HIV? Available from: https://www.vinmec.com/eng/blog/can-a-normal-blood-test-detect-hiv-en [Accessed August 2025]
  15. International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Complete Blood Count (CBC). Available from: https://www.iapac.org/fact-sheet/complete-blood-count-cbc/ [Accessed August 2025]
  16. HIV.gov. Understanding HIV Test Results. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-testing/learn-about-hiv-testing/understanding-hiv-test-results [Accessed August 2025]
  17. HIV.gov. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis [Accessed August 2025]
  18. NHS. About Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep/about-pre-exposure-prophylaxis-prep/ [Accessed August 2025]

NP-GBL-HVX-COCO-240001 | February 2026

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the GSK Reporting Tool link https://gsk.public.reportum.com/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

If you are from outside the UK, you can report adverse events to GSK/ ViiV by selecting your region and market, here.