Skip to main content
I need a test

Ways to test

Plan it

Privacy

Your situation

I have symptoms

Check

Down there

Elsewhere

Is it an STI at all?

I was exposed

Act now

Timing

Your risk

I tested positive

Next steps

Partners

Living with it

Prevention

Daily defenses

Vaccines

Smarter sex

Conditions

Health areas

Bacterial

Viral

Hepatitis

Parasitic & skin

Related & look-alikes

Viral STI

HIV/AIDS Testing

HIV is manageable now, but only if you know your status. About 1.2 million Americans live with HIV, and roughly 13% don't know it. With one pill a day, people with HIV reach an undetectable viral load and can expect a near-normal lifespan, and U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) means someone on effective therapy cannot sexually transmit it. Testing is the first step.

Find HIV/AIDS testing near you When can HIV/AIDS be detected?

Understanding HIV/AIDS

Testing for HIV/AIDS, in brief

HIV/AIDS is usually symptomless, so testing is the only reliable way to know you have it. This page covers how HIV/AIDS testing works, what it costs, and where to get tested near you.

Full HIV/AIDS overview: symptoms, complications & treatment

Where to get tested

Find HIV/AIDS testing near you

Choose your test and enter your city: we'll take you straight to local HIV/AIDS testing: nearby clinics and labs, prices, hours and county rates.

Test from home

At-home STD testing in the U.S.

if you'd rather skip the trip, an at-home kit ships to the U.S., you collect the sample privately, and mail it back to a CLIA-certified lab. Results come online in days, with a clinician available if anything is positive. Same labs as a clinic, no waiting room, and you can read how accurate at-home STD tests are before you order.

Want a free option first? The CDC-supported TakeMeHome program mails free at-home HIV self-test kits, and, in many areas, free STI kits, to your door, with no insurance or payment needed. The paid kits below add broader panels and faster turnaround.

  • In-home collection

    Quest Diagnostics

    Quest Diagnostics

    $79 & up

    Panel:
    8-infection panel incl. chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis & herpes: single tests too
    Sample:
    Quest Mobile: a phlebotomist collects your sample at home
    Results:
    1–3 days, online: physician-reviewed
    • In-home sample collection
    • Nationwide Quest lab network
    • Physician-reviewed results
    • FSA/HSA eligible
    Order online Quest Diagnostics review

  • Best value: single tests

    Everlywell

    Everlywell

    $49 & up

    Panel:
    Chlamydia & gonorrhea, up to a 6-test panel adding HIV, syphilis, trichomoniasis & hep C
    Sample:
    Finger-prick + swab
    Results:
    Days, online
    • Telehealth visit if positive
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • HSA/FSA eligible
    • Subscription savings
    Order online Everlywell review

  • Best range: couples & full panels

    myLAB Box

    myLAB Box

    $79 & up

    Panel:
    Up to 14 infections, incl. HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis & herpes
    Sample:
    Self-collect: swab, urine, finger-prick
    Results:
    2–5 days, online
    • Free phone consult if positive
    • CLIA-certified labs
    • Couples & subscription options
    • Discreet packaging
    Order online myLAB Box review

Every kit uses CLIA-certified labs. At-home testing is for screening; a reactive result should be confirmed and treated by a clinician. Prices and panels shown are illustrative and change often, confirm current details on the provider's site.

Symptoms

Do you need a HIV/AIDS test?

Most people with HIV have no symptoms during the chronic phase, which can last a decade or more without treatment. The only reliable way to know your status is to test, symptoms cannot tell you whether you have HIV. That's exactly why testing matters: you can have it, pass it on, and never feel a thing.

See every HIV/AIDS symptom — in women, men, rectal & throat

Disease progression

How does HIV/AIDS progress?

HIV/AIDS progresses through distinct stages: each with different symptoms, contagiousness, and consequences. Catching it early means simpler treatment and better outcomes; the later stages are harder to manage and carry more serious risks.

  1. 1

    Acute HIV Infection

    2–4 weeks after exposure Contagious

    Immediately after infection, the virus replicates explosively throughout the body, and the viral load in the blood reaches its highest level of the entire infection. The immune system mounts a furious response that drives the viral load down temporarily but cannot clear the virus. This is the most infectious period, the risk of transmitting HIV to a partner is dramatically elevated. Only an HIV RNA (NAT) test can detect the virus at this stage; antibody tests will still be negative. Many people experience acute retroviral syndrome (ARS), which resembles severe flu or mono. Even those who never recognize any symptoms are highly contagious.

    • High fever (>38°C)
    • Severe fatigue
    • Swollen lymph nodes (neck, armpits, groin)
    • Rash on trunk, face or limbs
    • Sore throat, headache
    • Muscle and joint aches
    • Oral or genital ulcers
    • Night sweats
  2. 2

    Chronic HIV Infection (Clinical Latency)

    Months to years after acute stage Contagious

    After the acute phase, the viral load stabilizes at a lower level (the 'set point'), and most people feel entirely well, sometimes for a decade or more. This is not a latent infection in the biological sense; the virus continues replicating actively, and CD4 counts decline at roughly 50–100 cells/µL per year without treatment. The person can transmit HIV to partners throughout this phase. With ART, this stage can last indefinitely: viral load drops to undetectable, CD4 counts stabilize or recover, and the person cannot transmit HIV sexually (U=U). Without ART, most people progress to AIDS within 10 years; a minority of 'long-term non-progressors' maintain CD4 counts without treatment for much longer.

    • Usually none
    • Persistent, painless lymph node swelling in some people
    • Mild, recurrent infections as CD4 count falls below 500 cells/µL
  3. 3

    AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

    If CD4 count drops below 200 cells/µL or an AIDS-defining illness occurs Contagious

    AIDS is not a separate infection: it is the late stage of untreated HIV, defined by a CD4 count below 200 cells/µL or the diagnosis of an AIDS-defining condition. At this level of immune suppression, organisms that a healthy immune system ignores become life-threatening opportunistic infections. AIDS-defining conditions include PCP pneumonia (caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii), toxoplasmosis of the brain, CMV retinitis (causing blindness), Kaposi's sarcoma, cryptococcal meningitis, MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex) infection, and esophageal candidiasis. Without treatment, the median survival after an AIDS diagnosis is 2–3 years. AIDS is NOT a death sentence with modern ART: starting antiretroviral therapy even at this advanced stage initiates immune reconstitution, and many people recover substantially, though some complications can leave permanent damage.

    • Dramatic weight loss
    • Recurrent high fevers and night sweats
    • Chronic diarrhea
    • Extreme fatigue
    • Opportunistic infections (PCP pneumonia, toxoplasmosis, CMV retinitis, cryptococcal meningitis)
    • AIDS-defining cancers (Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma, invasive cervical cancer)
    • Neurological deterioration (HIV dementia, peripheral neuropathy)

How testing works

How a HIV/AIDS test works

Testing for HIV/AIDS is simple and painless — you pee in a cup or do a quick swab, and a lab checks the sample for the infection. Below: your options, what each costs, and how soon you can test after a possible exposure.

Your HIV/AIDS testing window

After a possible exposure, a HIV/AIDS test becomes reliable around 10–33 days later.

Exposure Day 0 Earliest reliable Day 10 Conclusive Day 33

Before day 10 a test can miss it · from day 10 it's reliable · re-test after day 33 if you tested early.

After treatment

If negative at 45 days with a 4th-gen test, no further testing is needed for that specific exposure. Continue routine annual testing (or every 3–6 months if you have ongoing risk factors such as multiple partners, recent STIs, or inject drugs). A reactive result on any test, including rapid or at-home tests, must always be confirmed with a follow-up lab test before starting treatment or making clinical decisions.

4th-generation antigen/antibody combo test Most accurate
Sample
Blood draw (venous or finger-prick)
Results
1–3 days

The current standard HIV test at virtually all labs and clinics. Detects both HIV p24 antigen (a viral protein present even before antibodies develop) and HIV-1/HIV-2 antibodies. Reliable at 45 days; detects about 80% of infections by day 23 and more than 99% by day 45. This is the CDC-preferred method for HIV diagnosis.

HIV RNA (NAT/NAAT) Earliest detection
Sample
Blood draw
Results
1–3 days

Detects the virus's genetic material directly, the earliest possible detection at 10–33 days post-exposure. Used when acute HIV is suspected (recent high-risk exposure + flu-like symptoms), for blood-supply screening, and in people who may have been exposed very recently. Not routine screening due to cost (~$150–300) and must be specifically ordered by a clinician. A negative at 33 days after a single exposure is highly reassuring.

Rapid antibody test (clinic/fingerstick)
Sample
Finger-prick blood or oral fluid
Results
20–30 minutes

Available at clinics, health departments and some pharmacies without an appointment. Results in about 20 minutes. These are antibody-only tests with a window period of 23–90 days, less sensitive than the 4th-gen lab test in the 23–45 day window. A reactive (positive) rapid test result must always be confirmed with a lab test before starting treatment.

At-home self-test (OraQuick) Most private
Sample
Oral swab (self-collected)
Results
~20 minutes

FDA-approved, available over-the-counter at pharmacies (~$40) or free through some health programs. Uses an oral fluid swab; results in about 20 minutes at home. Window period of 23–90 days. Sensitivity is slightly lower than lab tests (~92% vs 99%+), a negative result in the 23–90 day window should be confirmed with a lab test if exposure was recent. A reactive result requires a confirmatory lab test.

Mail-in / at-home kit (lab-analyzed)
Sample
Finger-prick blood spot (self-collected, mailed to lab)
Results
2–5 days

Combines the privacy of at-home collection with the accuracy of a lab-analyzed 4th-generation test. You collect a dried blood spot at home and mail it to a CLIA-certified laboratory; results are returned online. More sensitive than oral-swab self-tests and has the same 45-day window as the standard 4th-gen test.

3rd-generation antibody-only test (older)
Sample
Blood draw
Results
1–3 days

An older test still used in some settings. Detects antibodies only (IgG and IgM), not p24 antigen, making it less sensitive in the 18–45 day window compared to 4th-gen tests. Reliable at 90 days. If you're told your test is 'antibody-only,' wait 90 days from your last potential exposure for a conclusive result.

What a HIV/AIDS test costs

Where What it costs
Private lab (self-pay)~$24–$80 for a 4th-generation antigen/antibody test at a private lab (order online, walk in with no appointment); at-home oral-swab self-tests (OraQuick) ~$40 over the counter at pharmacies; mail-in lab-quality kits ~$79–$150
Free / sliding-scale clinicFree HIV testing is widely available at health departments, community health centers, Planned Parenthood, and CDC-funded community sites, find one at gettested.cdc.gov. The federal government also mails free at-home HIV self-tests to eligible people (17+) through the CDC's Together TakeMeHome program at togethertakemehome.org.
With insuranceACA-compliant plans cover HIV screening at no out-of-pocket cost for all adults and adolescents. PrEP (the prevention medication) is covered with no cost-sharing under the ACA as preventive care; manufacturer patient assistance programs make PrEP available at $0 for uninsured individuals

Compare STD testing costs across every option.

Screening guidance

Who should get tested for HIV/AIDS?

Because HIV/AIDS is often silent, the CDC and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend routine screening for the groups most likely to have it, not just people with symptoms.

  1. 1

    Everyone aged 13–64, at least once in their lifetime

    The CDC recommends a routine HIV screen for every person aged 13–64 (the USPSTF recommends screening ages 15–65) as part of standard healthcare, regardless of perceived risk. About 13% of people with HIV in the US don't know, routine testing is what closes that gap. You don't need to identify as high-risk to get tested; HIV testing is as routine as a blood pressure check.

  2. 2

    Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM)

    The CDC recommends testing at least once a year, and every 3–6 months for those with multiple or anonymous partners, partners of unknown status, or who use stimulant drugs during sex. MSM account for 67% of new HIV diagnoses in the US: not because gay sex transmits HIV more inherently, but because of network effects and structural inequities in access to care and prevention. PrEP is a game-changer for this group.

  3. 3

    People who inject drugs

    Sharing injection equipment is one of the most efficient HIV transmission routes. Test at least once a year, use sterile equipment (available at syringe services programs and most pharmacies without a prescription), and ask a clinician about PrEP. Naloxone access and medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder are also part of a comprehensive harm-reduction approach.

  4. 4

    People with HIV-positive partners or recent STIs

    An HIV-positive partner who is NOT yet on treatment or has a detectable viral load creates real transmission risk. If your partner has HIV, get on PrEP, it reduces your risk by more than 99%. A recent syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes or chlamydia diagnosis also warrants an HIV test: genital sores and inflammation are biological highways for HIV in both directions.

  5. 5

    Pregnant people

    HIV screening is recommended at the first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester in higher-prevalence settings. With ART throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and infant prophylaxis after birth, the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby falls below 1%. A diagnosis during pregnancy is not a reason for panic; it's the start of highly effective management for two patients.

  6. 6

    Anyone with a potential recent exposure

    If you think you were exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, a condom break with a partner of unknown status, a needlestick, or sexual assault, go to an emergency department or urgent care immediately for PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) without waiting to test first. PEP must start within 72 hours to be effective, and sooner is always better. After completing PEP, test at 45 and 90 days to confirm it worked.

Browse by location

HIV/AIDS testing by state & city

Jump to local HIV/AIDS testing, clinics and labs, prices and county rates, in your state or a popular city, or explore another test.

Popular cities

Keep reading

More on HIV/AIDS

All condition guides articles

Living with HIV/AIDS

Questions to ask your provider about HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS is treatable and nothing to be ashamed of. The most useful next step after a positive result (or before a first test) is a direct conversation with a clinician. Here are the questions that matter most:

  • Is my HIV/AIDS test result definitive, or do I need a confirmatory test?
  • How soon can I expect to become undetectable, and what does U=U mean for me and my partners?
  • Should I notify my recent partners, and can your office help me do that confidentially?
  • Am I a candidate for a once-daily single-tablet regimen or the long-acting injectable option?
  • Are there other STIs I should test for at the same visit?
  • Can this affect my fertility, pregnancy, or long-term health if left untreated?

Good to Know

HIV/AIDS testing FAQs

Common questions about HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS testing, answered.

How do I get tested for HIV?

HIV testing is widely available and takes minutes. You can order a lab test online (Quest, LabCorp, and similar) and walk in with no appointment: a blood draw, results in 1–3 days. Clinics and health departments offer rapid tests with results in about 20 minutes, often free. You can buy an OraQuick oral-swab self-test at a pharmacy for around $40 and test at home immediately. Mail-in kits let you collect a blood spot at home and get lab-quality results online. Find a free testing site near you at gettested.cdc.gov. There is no reason to wait, testing is the first step to knowing.

What is the HIV window period and which test should I use?

The window period is the time between HIV infection and when a test can reliably detect it. The answer depends on the test type. An HIV RNA (NAT) test detects the virus itself and can turn positive 10–33 days after exposure, useful for very recent exposures or when acute symptoms are present. The standard 4th-generation antigen/antibody combo test (used by most labs) is reliable at 45 days, it detects more than 99% of infections by that point. Older antibody-only tests and oral-swab rapid tests (OraQuick) have a longer window of 23–90 days, so a negative result inside that range can miss a real infection. For most people, the 4th-gen lab test at 45 days is the right choice. If you test at 45 days with a 4th-gen test and it's negative, that exposure is definitively ruled out.

What's the difference between an HIV RNA test and a 4th-generation test?

An HIV RNA test (also called a NAT or NAAT) detects the virus's genetic material directly, the virus itself. It can turn positive 10–33 days after exposure, before the immune system has formed any antibodies. It's the only test that can catch HIV in the first few weeks. The 4th-generation antigen/antibody combo test detects two things simultaneously: the p24 antigen (a viral protein) and HIV antibodies. The antigen component gives it earlier detection than older antibody-only tests, making it reliable at 45 days. The RNA test is more expensive (~$150–300), must be ordered by a clinician, and is reserved for high-risk recent exposures or when acute HIV is suspected. The 4th-gen combo is the standard test used everywhere and is what you'll get at most labs and clinics.

Can I test for HIV at home?

Yes, and there are two types. The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is an oral-swab test sold at pharmacies (~$40) that gives results in about 20 minutes, no lab involved. It's antibody-only with a 23–90 day window, and its sensitivity (~92%) is slightly lower than lab tests; a negative result in the first 90 days after exposure should ideally be confirmed with a lab test. Mail-in kits (such as those from myLAB Box, Everlywell, or similar services) use a dried blood spot you collect at home and send to a CLIA-certified lab; these use the same 4th-generation technology and give lab-quality results online within a few days, with the same 45-day window. A reactive result on any at-home test must be confirmed with a follow-up lab test before starting treatment.

What does a negative HIV test at 45 days mean?

A negative result on a 4th-generation antigen/antibody combo test at 45 days after a potential exposure means you do not have HIV from that exposure, with very high certainty. The 4th-gen test detects more than 99% of HIV infections by 45 days. You do not need to retest for that specific exposure unless you have had additional exposures since. This only applies to the 4th-generation lab test (or a lab-analyzed blood-spot mail-in kit): not to oral-swab rapid tests (OraQuick) or older antibody-only tests, which need 90 days for a definitive result. Continue routine testing if you have ongoing risk factors.

What happens if I test positive for HIV?

A reactive result on a rapid or at-home test must be confirmed with a follow-up lab test, a 4th-gen antigen/antibody test or NAT, before any clinical decisions are made. False positives occur, particularly on oral-swab rapid tests, so confirmation is essential. Once confirmed, the most important step is to connect with an HIV care provider and start antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible. Modern ART is a single pill once a day; most people achieve an undetectable viral load within 3–6 months. Testing positive today is not a crisis: it is information that opens the door to treatment, a near-normal lifespan, and the ability to protect your partners through U=U. HIV clinics typically offer integrated services including mental health support, partner notification assistance, and navigation of insurance and medication access programs.

Medically Reviewed · Updated

Reviewed by Mark Riegel, MD · Sexual Health Physician · Chief Medical Reviewer

Physician focused on sexual health, STI testing, treatment and prevention, and EasySTD's chief medical reviewer. Owns the condition guides and is the clinical backstop for any page without a more specific specialist. Our editorial guidelines →

8 Sources

Data & references

Have a different question? Browse the full STD & STI FAQ library, every question we answer, in one place.