Ask for a HIV test today

Testing is available at a service:

Get tested by a GP

Free HIV testing is available with a Medicare card through any general practitioner (GP) who bulk bills.

Find a general practice

Testing is available online

  • Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test for HIV and Hepatitis C (free)
  • atomo  Rapid HIV self-test (cost)
    At the present time, the atomo rapid HIV self- test is the only TGA approved  home HIV test product available in the Australian market
  • You[TEST] provides peer support to help you choose between Dried Blood Spot or Atomo self-test

If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last three months, it is important to speak to a doctor or visit a sexual health clinic. Like other HIV tests, the atomo HIV self-test has a window period of three months. This means that the test may not detect HIV that has been acquired in the last three months.

Some non-GP services and DBS tests are free even if you don't have Medicare or insurance.

Dried Blood SpotDried Blood Spot (DBS) is a private way to test for HIV and hepatitis C

DBS is a free finger prick test kit that can be ordered online and sent to your home or a mailing address of your choice.

You can order the test if you are:

  • a man who has had sex with men
  • a person with a transgender history
  • a person born overseas, or whose parents were born overseas, or who speaks a language other than English at home
  • an Aboriginal person
  • a person who currently injects drugs or has ever injected drugs
  • a person who has ever been or is in prison.

You don't need a Medicare card but you must live in NSW to get the free mail order DBS test kit.

Get a mail order test




Prevent HIV and STIs – learn the basics today

The best way to protect yourself and others from HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is to practice safe behaviours:

Talk to your doctor about taking PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) – this is where people at high risk who don’t have HIV, take a pill every day to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV.

Someone confidential to talk to

You can have a confidential conversation with a nurse about STI and HIV symptoms, testing, prevention and treatment by calling the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 (freecall).

NSW Sexual Health Infolink - 1800 451 624


Current as at: Wednesday 1 June 2022
Contact page owner: Centre for Population Health