NSW Health

Get a mail order test

 

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

DBS​ is a 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
• from a country wh​ere HIV is more common than Australia​​ or had a sexual partner(s) from these countries
• an Aboriginal person, or
  
• a person who injects drugs

Ask for a HIV test today

Testing is available at:

• general practitioner (doctor) *
• Dried Blood Spot
• sexual health clinic
• rapid HIV testing site
• Aboriginal Medical Service

*If your doctor doesn’t direct bill Medicare you may have to pay a fee.

 

 

Who should get tested for HIV?

You should get tested for HIV if you:

• are a man who has sex with other men
• had sex when traveling in, or with someone from a country where HIV is common
• come from a country where HIV is common
• used injecting equipment after someone else
• think you've been at risk.

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

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:

• Always use condoms if you have vaginal or anal sex. Condoms are the best way to prevent HIV and STIs. Find where to get free condoms
• Always use new drug injecting equipment available from a Needle and Syringe Program

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.

Treatment for HIV now means a long and healthy life

Highly effective treatment for HIV now means you can live a long and healthy life. If you get tested for HIV you can know your status and if you have HIV, start treatment as soon as possible.

Effective treatment stops you passing HIV to others - not knowing you have HIV could mean passing it on to others. Ask for a test today.

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).