HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and if it is left untreated, it can lead to serious illnesses or death. HIV can be found in blood, semen, vaginal fluid and fluid from the lining of the anus. During sex, HIV is transmitted from one person to another through these fluids.
HIV is the virus that can cause AIDS.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is not a single disease.
If untreated, HIV can damage the immune system so that the body has no defence against serious illness; these are known as AIDS defining illnesses.
It is important to remember that a person who is living with HIV does not have AIDS. However, all people with AIDS have HIV. With today’s treatments, very few people living with HIV in Australia are diagnosed with AIDS.
For more information on how HIV is treated, head to Treat HIV Now
The terms HIV and AIDS do not mean the same thing
HIV is a disease that is transmitted from one person to another, but it is not contagious like the flu or COVID – it is not air-borne. HIV cannot be transmitted by kissing, hugging, shaking hands, coughing or sneezing. Nor can it be transmitted by sharing glasses, cups or cooking utensils.
There are three main ways that HIV is transmitted:
There is no cure for HIV and no vaccine to prevent it
There are many ways that HIV can be prevented, including:
It is best to find out WHAT WORKS best for you to prevent HIV.
Listen to guys chat about what works for them to prevent HIV.
HIV is detected by an HIV antibody test. When HIV enters your body, the body produces antibodies to fight the virus. It is these antibodies that are detected in an HIV test. It can take between 2 to 12 weeks for these antibodies to be produced and detected by an HIV test.
The time between HIV entering your body and when it can be detected by a test is called the ‘window period’. An HIV antibody test performed during the window period could be negative even though the person may have HIV. That is why it’s important to get tested regularly for HIV.
If you are having sex, you should get tested for HIV at least once a year – even if you only have one partner.
For guys who have sex with more than one other person, you should get tested every 3 months, or four times a year.
There are different ways to get tested for HIV, including:
For information about STI testing, head to the Drama Downunder.
Traditional testing for HIV involves a blood sample taken from your arm. The blood sample is sent to a laboratory for testing, this process can take up to 7 days to get the result.
Before having your blood sample taken, the doctor or nurse will usually ask you a few questions about your sexual history, including:
These questions might feel quite personal, but it’s important to be honest with your doctor. The more they know about your sexual history, the better positioned they are to help you look after your sexual health.
Getting the results
Traditional HIV testing will give you either an HIV negative or an HIV positive result.
If you get an HIV negative result, the doctor may chat with you about different ways to prevent HIV and the importance of regular testing. If you receive a negative result, you still need to take into account the window period, which refers to the amount of time it can take for HIV antibodies to show up in a test. For that reason, it's recommended that you get tested again between 6 weeks and 3 months.
If you get an HIV positive result, the doctor will chat with you in person and discuss what the results mean. They may want to discuss:
They may provide you with a referral to speak with someone about what you are going through. For support, you can always contact Thorne Harbour Health if you live in Victoria and SAMESH if you live in South Australia.
There are two ways that you can use a HIV rapid test. You can either use the test yourself (see Home Based Testing) or get a peer tester to use the test with you. Peer testers are people who have been trained in how to use the tests.
Rapid testing for HIV involves providing a small blood sample through a finger prick. A rapid HIV test gives you a result in 15 minutes.
Before having a rapid HIV test, the person doing it for you will usually ask you a few questions about your sexual history, including:
These questions might feel quite personal, but it’s important to be honest. The more the person knows about your sexual history, the better positioned they are to offer you advice about your sexual health.
Getting the results
The results from a rapid HIV test are different to traditional HIV tests. The rapid test can give a result in 15 minutes, compared to the 7 days a traditional test will take to provide a result.
There are three possible results from a rapid HIV test, including:
If you receive a non-reactive result, you still need to take into account the window period, which refers to the amount of time it can take for HIV antibodies to show up in a test. For that reason, it's recommended that you get tested again in 3 months.
Rapid HIV tests take 15 minutes to get a result
If you receive a reactive result, this will need to be confirmed with a traditional HIV test. This is to make sure that the rapid test result was correct. If you get a reactive result, the person who did the test for you will chat with you about:
They may provide you with a referral to speak with someone about what you are going through. For support, you can always contact Thorne Harbour Health if you live in Victoria and SAMESH if you live in South Australia.
Where to get a rapid test?
Rapid tests are available for free at PRONTO! which is a peer-based rapid HIV testing service LOCATED right here in Melbourne in Abbotsford. You can make an appointment and find out more information here.
If you live in South Australia, you can access free rapid tests from RAPIDO! which is a peer-based rapid HIV testing service located in the CBD. You can make an appointment and find out more information here.
To find other places to get a rapid HIV tests across Australia, go to the Drama Downunder.
Home-based HIV test kits are the same as the rapid HIV test kits, and use a small sample of blood from a finger prick, giving you a result in 15 minutes. The main difference is that you can use these test kits in the privacy of your own home.
There is currently only one test approved for sale in Australia, the Atomo HIV Self-Test. It is important to only buy devices approved for sale, so you can be sure the result is accurate and that the device is safe to use.
The home-based rapid test comes with instructions on how to use it, and you will need to follow these instructions closely to ensure the result of the test is accurate.
All reactive rapid tests need to be confirmed with traditional HIV tests
Getting the results
The rapid test can give a result in 15 minutes, compared to the 7 days a traditional test will take to provide a result.
There are three possible results from a home-based rapid HIV test, including:
If you receive a negative result, you still need to take into account the window period, which refers to the amount of time it can take for HIV antibodies to show up in a test. For that reason, it's recommended that you get tested again in 3 months.
If you receive an invalid result, you will need to make an appointment with a doctor and have a traditional HIV test.
What happens if I get a positive result?
If you receive a positive result, this will need to be confirmed with a traditional HIV test. This is to make sure that the home-based rapid test was correct. The Drama Downunder website can help you find a place to get a traditional HIV test.
For support, you can always contact Thorne Harbour Health if you live in Victoria and SAMESH if you live in South Australia.
Where to get a self-test kit?
You can access an HIV self-test kit from some local pharmacies, or you buy directly from the Atomo website.
You can also purchase these self-test kits from your local HIV/AIDS organisation. If you live in Victoria, contact Thorne Harbour Health on (03) 9865 6700, or if you live in South Australia contact SAMESH on (08) 7099 5300.