Welcome to the Earl’s Court Health and Wellbeing Centre, the following information will prepare you for your appointment and explain how you will get your results.
What services do we offer?
We offer HIV testing, contraception clinics, sexual health screening and treatment.
What happens in the appointment?
Before your appointment we will ask you to complete a form to tell us about any symptoms you have. If you do not have any symptoms you will be seen by a health care assistant who can test you for HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis.
If you have symptoms or need treatment, you will be seen by a nurse who may need to examine you. Some people prefer to have another person, known as a chaperone, in the room during their appointment. If you would like a chaperone please let the nurse or health care assistant know at the start of the consultation.
We will need to ask you some questions about your sex life so we can decide which tests and treatment you might need.
When and how will I get my test results?
We will contact you by phone to give you some of your results and you’ll get some of them before you leave your appointment. It is important to give us the correct telephone number. If you don’t answer your phone and we can’t leave a message, we will be unable to give you your results.
Confidentiality
Your appointment is confidential and your results will only be given to you. If we need to refer you on, we’ll only give out your details with your permission. The only reason we might have to consider passing on confidential information without permission would be to protect you or someone else from harm. We will always try and discuss this with you first. If you have any worries about confidentiality please speak to a member of staff.
HIV tests
Everyone accessing health services is offered an HIV test - if you decide you want one, you will be offered a blood sample test or a rapid test.
How does the rapid test work?
Our rapid finger-prick test looks for antibodies to HIV. Your body makes antibodies to try to fight off HIV a few weeks after infection. As they can take up to three months to show in your blood, you may be advised to come back for a repeat test three months from when you last had sex.
If the test finds antibodies to HIV in your blood, we will be able to tell straight away. If this happens we call it a ‘reactive’ test result. If there are no antibodies to HIV in your blood we call this a ‘negative’ result.
When and how will I get the HIV test results and what happens if they are reactive?
You’ll receive your result before you leave the clinic. If the result is reactive, we’ll need to confirm it by taking some blood and sending it to our laboratory. We’ll then refer you to a sexual health clinic that will confirm your result and give you follow-up care.
Why test?
These days we have a range of sophisticated drugs which can suppress HIV in the body. If you are diagnosed early you can start to take treatments as soon as you need them. People with HIV can live a near-normal lifespan when they start treatments on time, so testing regularly is a sensible idea.
Some more information about HIV
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a viral infection that attacks the human body’s immune system. Initially a person may show no symptoms of HIV infection as their immune system manages to control it. Over time, and without treatments, their immune system will weaken and the person will be more likely to get illnesses and infections. The treatments we have now can suppress HIV so if you have HIV, the sooner you know, the better. We recommend an HIV test to everyone.
How is HIV transmitted and how can the risks be reduced?
Body fluids which contain enough HIV to infect someone are:
- sperm and seminal fluid
- blood
- vaginal fluids, including menstrual fluids
- breast milk
Other body fluids like saliva, sweat or urine, do not contain enough of the virus to infect another person.
The main ways HIV is passed on is through unprotected sex, blood to blood (ie, sharing needles) or from a mother to her baby. The most effective way of reducing the risk of HIV being passed from one person to another is to use a condom or Femidom properly with the right lubricant, if needed.
Contact us
If you're worried about any aspect of HIV ring the THT Direct helpline on 0808 802 1221 for advice and support.