HIV Antibody Testing -- Know Your Status!
On this page:
- You have two options for testing: Confidential or Anonymous
- When to test
- Why test?
- The meaning of test results
- For more information
You have two options for testing:
| For a Confidential Test | For an Anonymous Test |
| HIV test can be combined with other services or done alone | HIV test only |
| You will meet with a UHS clinician or nurse | You will meet with an HIV test counselor |
| Result will be part of your medical record and a copy available for your use | No written record of test result |
| Blood test only | Blood or oral test |
| Free for currently enrolled UM students | |
| Fees vary for others | $20 fee for others |
| By appointment or walk-in to 1st floor lobby |
Sept - April: Walk-in Monday-Friday, 1-3 PM to Health Promotion (2nd floor). Limited availabilty. May - Aug: By appointment only |
| To make an appointment, call: 734-764-8325 or 734-647-9717 (text telephone for the hearing-impaired) |
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When to test: For most people, we recommend that you test 3-6 months after your last possible exposure (for example unprotected sex). The test looks for antibodies to HIV, not for the virus, and the body takes time to develop antibodies (50% at 1 month, 97% at 3 months, virtually 100% at 6 months). If you test earlier than 3-6 months, you may need to repeat the test. You can talk to a UHS HIV test counselor about your personal situation.
Why test? Take the test if you have been exposed to another person's blood, semen, vaginal fluids or breast milk, for example through unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral) or sharing injection drug equipment.
Benefits of testing include:
- Reduced anxiety about your health
- Information about risk, safer sex, etc.
- Earlier medical care if you are infected
- Negative means no HIV antibodies found, either because you have not been infected with HIV, or you have not yet developed antibodies. (Antibodies develop within six months after infection.)
- Positive means HIV antibodies were found. HIV is present and you are able to infect others. It does not necessarily mean that you have symptoms.
- Indeterminate means that the test result is unclear and should be repeated.
- Call Carol at 734-647-4657 (Note: if you want to get tested, see Two Options for Testing)
- Free condoms are available to UM students at UHS Health Promotion and Community Relations (room 2110)
- Free HIV testing is also offered at The Spectrum Center
- Resources for Sexual Health lists other local test sites, hotlines and more
- Emergency Contraception
- Pregnancy Testing
- STI Assessment for sexually transmitted infection / diseases
