If I think I have been exposed to HIV, how soon can I get tested?
HIV tests look for your body’s response to an HIV infection (called ‘antibodies’). Each persons’ body is different and some people may develop a response to an infection faster than others. While most people develop an antibody response to HIV within the first 3-6 weeks after being infected, some people may take as long as 3 months or longer. To find out when you should be tested, discuss it with an HIV counselor at the HIV test site or with your personal physician. During the time between exposure and the test, it is important to avoid any behavior that might result in exposure to blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. If your exposure happened in the last 3 days (72 hours) please contact your doctor immediately or go to your nearest urgent care center for evaluation. You may be eligible for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, medication that can prevention an HIV infection from happening in your body.

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1. What is HIV?
2. How is HIV transmitted?
3. How can HIV be prevented?
4. Who is at risk for HIV?
5. How do I know if I am infected?
6. If I think I have been exposed to HIV, how soon can I get tested?
7. What if I'm positive?
8. What if I'm negative?
9. If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my partner is HIV negative also?
10. What if I was exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours?
11. How do I prove to my partner that I am HIV negative?
12. If somebody did not tell me that they have HIV can they be arrested?
13. Is there a website or database where I can look up my partner to see if they are HIV+?
14. I did not get tested at the Health Department, why are you trying to contact me?
15. I am HIV+ but don’t have insurance. Is there any help for me?
16. I am HIV+ but don’t want to tell my partner. What can I do?
17. If I’m HIV+ and my partner is too, why do we still need to use condoms?
18. People who have HIV look sick, so can’t you tell if somebody has it just by looking at them?
19. I was just told that I have HIV but I feel healthy. Why do I need to see a doctor now, can’t I wait?
20. I know I’m not at risk for HIV so I don’t need to get tested, right?
21. I don’t want to get tested because my insurance will kick me off.