Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is a virus that weakens the immune system. HIV does not define you. You’re still the same person - beautiful, unique. However, if HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

HIV doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone who engages in certain behaviors, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, etc. Unprotected sex (vaginal, anal and oral), sharing needles/syringes (or other blood to blood contact), or childbirth (from mother to child) can transmit HIV.

Variety Care offers a safe, accepting place for you to receive HIV testing, prevention, treatment and education.

All Variety Care sites now offer HIV testing. Additionally, our location at 1025 Straka Terrace currently offers a monthly Free HIV testing program through a partnership with the Latino Community Development Agency (LCDA) and Red Rock Behavioral Health Services.

Many insurances will cover the cost of HIV testing; however, those without insurance may qualify to receive a test for as low at $4 at Variety Care.

Who Needs To Be Tested For HIV?

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once.  However, getting tested for HIV once may not be enough. Those at high risk should receive testing at least once a year. High risk individuals include:

• Men who have sex with men
• People with more than 1 sexual partner
• Transgender people who have sex with men
• People who have recently had an STI
• People who use injection drugs

Some individuals, such as sexually active gay or bisexual men, may need to receive testing every 3 to 6 months. Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should also be tested.

It's important to discuss with your provider which option fits best with you and contributes to a healthy lifestyle. That's why Variety Care offers a safe, accepting environment to discuss your health care needs confidentially. Additionally, all staff have undergone training to better understand the LGBTQ+ community and better serve everyone who walks through our doors.

Types of HIV Testing

HIV Antibody Tests

• These tests look for antibodies to HIV in your blood or oral fluid. In general, antibody tests that use blood from a vein can detect HIV sooner after infection than tests done with blood from a finger prick or with oral fluid
• These tests are often used in rapid HIV testing

HIV Antigen/Antibody HIV

• These tests looks for both HIV antibodies and antigen. If you have HIV, an antigen called p24 is produced even before antibodies develop, making this test more accurate.
• These tests are more detailed and generally conducted in a laboratory

Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT)

• This test looks for the actual virus in the blood and involves drawing blood from a vein. The test can either tell if a person has HIV or tell how much virus is present in the blood (known as an HIV viral load test).
• While accurate, this test is also very expensive and not often used except in certain circumstances.

For more information on HIV testing, visit the CDC's website: www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html

A positive test is not a death sentence. It doesn’t change who you are. With treatment, you can still live the best possible life.

It is important that you start medical care and begin HIV treatment as soon as you learn you are HIV positive. HIV is treated with a combination of drugs called anti-retro-viral therapy (ART).  ART is recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are. HIV medicine works by lowering the amount of virus in your body to very low levels.

Although a cure for HIV does not yet exist, ART can keep you healthy for many years. ART reduces the amount of virus (or viral load) in your blood and body fluids.