(En Francais)

Do you know your status?

About 1 out of 4 people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States do not know they are infected.

Most don’t show signs of infection for several years, and many people are not getting the early medical treatment they need. Knowing your HIV status is an essential way to protect your health and your partners.

Are you at risk?

HIV is spread through the exchange of certain body fluids—blood, semen and vaginal fluids.

This happens primarily through unprotected sex—vaginal, anal or oral. HIV can also be transmitted by sharing needles and other sharp objects, or through an infected blood transfusion. HIV can also pass from a pregnant woman to her baby during birth or breastfeeding.

You cannot be infected through casual contact, such as shaking hands or sharing a cup. There is also no evidence that contact with saliva, tears or sweat has ever resulted in HIV transmission.

HIV affects children, teenagers, adults, seniors, straight and gay, married and single people. Around the world, women are at greater risk for infection.

In African communities, HIV is most often transmitted through heterosexual sex.

Thinking about an HIV Test?

Testing is the only way to know for sure whether you have HIV.

There is still no cure for HIV, but if you are HIV-positive, early treatment will help you stay healthy.

You should be tested for HIV if you've ever had unprotected sex, had a sexually transmitted disease, received a blood transfusion, shared needles or sharp instruments, had sex with a partner who is HIV infected or who has high risk factors, such as unprotected sex with others or injection drug use.

For pregnant women, testing is especially important. Today, most HIV-positive women can have  healthy babies, but testing and early pre-natal care is essential. Knowing your HIV status can save your baby's life.

What to expect

African Services provides free, confidential HIV testing & results are available in about 20 minutes.

You can make an appointment or drop by our offices. Our counselors speak English, French, Spanish, and many African languages. They are trained to protect your confidentiality and provide the information and support you need.

Testing is a three-step process:

• First, a counselor will talk with you about HIV and your possible risks.
• Then, they will administer a rapid HIV test, which is done with a simple oral swab and provides results in about 20 minutes.
• After you receive your HIV test results, the counselor will provide information on condom use and reducing risky behavior.

It is important to know:
If you receive an HIV-positive result, a second test is necessary to confirm the results. You must come back to African Services two weeks later to receive the final results.

If you are HIV-positive, African Services will help you access free health care and treatment, regardless of your immigration status or ability to pay.