Why National HIV Testing Week?

1 in 8 of people living with HIV in the UK don't know they have it. That means they're more likely to pass it on to someone else and can't get treatment to keep them healthy. National HIV Testing Week is a great opportunity to get tested and know your status.

Why testing is important

Testing is the only way to know for sure if you have HIV or not. People sometimes live for years unaware that they have it.

If you’ve never tested, or it’s been more than a year since your last test, it’s a good idea to test now. It’s advised to test once a year – or more often if you’ve had unprotected sex with more than one partner.

If you have HIV and don’t know it, you’re more likely to pass it on. But if you know your status, you can make sure you and your partner are taking steps to stay healthy. For example, if you have a positive result, your partner could take PrEP while you start treatment. And if you have a negative result, you might choose to use PrEP yourself.

It takes about six months on treatment to become undetectable. This is when the amount of virus in your blood is so low that you can’t pass it on to other people.

How to get tested

There are lots of ways to get tested. You can test at your sexual health clinic, at your GP, or even take a test yourself at home. And there are lots of people out and about during National HIV Testing Week offering tests in the community.

Get involved

• Order a free postal test.
• Find out how often you should test.
• See which type of HIV test is best for you.
• Search for testing locations near you.

Find out more on the It Starts With Me website.