How and where to get tested for HIV
Globally, barriers to HIV testing may include not knowing where to get tested, perceived costs, low awareness of self-perceived risk, and gender inequities.27,28
Barriers to testing vary greatly between countries, but there are many places to get an HIV test, including:
In clinics/doctor’s offices
The following types of clinics typically offer HIV testing (depending on the country):
- sexual health or genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics
- gynaecologists (OB/GYN)
- urologists
- some primary care physicians (also known as family doctors and GPs)
- some contraception and young people's clinics
- antenatal clinic (if you're pregnant)
- private clinics (where you will have to pay)
- HIV testing centres run by charities or international humanitarian organisations (e.g Terrence Higgins Trust in the UK or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), who offer HIV testing and treatment globally)29
Healthcare system disparities exist globally. In some countries like the U.S., HIV testing may involve costs or health insurance, while other countries provide free HIV testing services or affordable testing in clinics. Developing regions, like parts of sub-Saharan Africa, may face low testing coverage and awareness.30 Socio-economic status often determines access to HIV testing (i.e. poverty, unemployment), and the concentration of health facilities in urban areas poses challenges to people in rural communities.30
In the community
Community-based HIV testing, led by trusted leaders, enhances awareness and education about HIV and testing.31 Communities may expand testing availability and accessibility through clinics, mobile units, and community-based centres.31 For instance in Rotterdam, a high HIV-prevalent multicultural area in the Netherlands, ‘walk-in’ testing events were piloted by community leaders at a boxing school, a community centre, and at a community support organisation where mainly women with a migratory background socialise.31 HIV testing was provided along with an assessment of body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose, and HIV education.31
At home using an HIV self test
Self-testing is available in some countries, allowing individuals to test for HIV in the privacy of their own home. This is particularly valuable for those who prefer a less medical environment for increased comfort or have limited access to testing services, such as those in rural areas.32
Where to buy a home HIV test kit
You can buy HIV home test kits online (e.g. via the Terrence Higgins Trust in the UK or s.a.m health in Germany) or collect them at pharmacies, usually after answering a few questions about symptoms and sexual health history.33
Globally, social enterprise MedAccess also collaborates with Wondfo (a point-of-care testing manufacturer) to offer its HIV self-test at a record low price of $1 for public sector purchasers in 140 low- and middle-income countries.44 FDA-approved kits such as the OraQuick® HIV Self-Test Kit are also an option with availability in the UK, India (via Ubuy), and Europe (including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal).25,45
Where to get a free home HIV test kit
Some sites may offer free home testing in partnership with hospitals, while others require payment. The Terrence Higgins Trust, for example, offers a free HIV home test finder for anywhere in the UK.34 Some other countries may have their own free test initiatives from sites affiliated with local public health departments, such as knowyourownHIVstatus.com in Florida, USA.
Globally, Unitaid offer HIV self-testing in low- and middle-income countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mail, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.46 In 2015, Unitaid funded the Self-Testing Africa Initiative (STAR), and by November 2018, STAR had distributed 2.3 million HIV self-test kits in Africa.46
HIV self-testing typically involves collecting a saliva or blood sample at home, which – depending on the product – can be either analysed at home or sent by mail for analysis in a laboratory.
Counselling services
The following types of counselling services typically offer HIV testing, depending on the country:
- Local drug dependency services
- Public health offices
- Checkpoints
- AIDS Action
Globally, different countries will have different accessibility to counselling services. In some low-income nations, people in rural areas may have no adequate voluntary counselling and testing services.36 Some countries may also have strict privacy laws to protect an individual’s HIV status, but in others, such laws may not exist, and people may face significant stigma.35,36
In countries with multiple languages, counselling could become very complex to deliver, and government policies also have a big influence. Many countries may have robust government-funded programmes, while others may rely more on NGOs and international organisations.37