Get a mail order test

 

Dried Blood Spot - a private way to test for HIV and hep C

Dried Blood Spot (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
• an Aboriginal person
• a person who injects drugs
• from a country where HIV is more common than Australia
• or had a sexual partner from these regions.

Ask for a HIV test today

You can ask for a HIV test at a:

• 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.

Get tested by a GP

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 confidentially talk to a nurse 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 a condom 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 injecting equipment if injecting drugs. Find a Needle and Syringe Program near you.

You can also talk to your doctor about taking PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) – this is where people who don’t have HIV take a pill every day to prevent them from becoming infected.

Treatment for HIV now means a long and healthy life

Highly effective treatment for HIV now means a long and healthy life. By getting tested for HIV you can know your status and 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.

Need someone to talk to?

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