The HIV home testing kit makes testing easy, reliable and convenient by allowing you to order a free kit online and take the test in the privacy of your home.

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hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au.

It involves only a simple blood test. A consultation fee is charged at non-bulk billing GPs.To make you feel comfortable there are many places you can go to get a HIV test:

•   GPs
•   Family Planning Clinics
•   Aboriginal Medical Services
•   Sexual health clinics
•   Community-based rapid HIV testing sites
•   Have a Dried Blood Spot (DBS) HIV test sent to your home

The DBS HIV Test is a new testing option available in NSW to people at risk of HIV. This includes men who have had sex with men; people from countries where HIV is more common (Africa or Asia); or people who have sexual partners from these regions. For more information and to see if you are eligible go to hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au

For confidential information on where to get a HIV test call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

Who should get tested?

Many people are surprised to learn that heterosexual people can also get HIV. There are about 10,000 people in NSW living with diagnosed HIV, and one in six people diagnosed with HIV get it through heterosexual sex. In Australia, most HIV infections are in men who have sex with men, but HIV can also be passed on during  sex without condoms between men and women. People can also get HIV through sharing needles when injecting drugs, but this is less common in Australia.

So why is HIV testing so important? Many people don’t know they have HIV, which means they are not getting the health benefits of being on HIV treatment. Not knowing about HIV could also mean you pass it on to others.

Just ask your doctor or nurse for a HIV test. Being diagnosed with HIV enables early treatment, which helps people stay well and live long and healthy lives.

By testing more, starting treatment early and staying safe, together we can end HIV transmission.

HIV is now a manageable health condition. The first step to living a healthy life with HIV is to get tested. A Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test is a free, convenient, effective and confidential HIV test you can do at home. If you know someone who feels nervous about going to the doctor for a test – tell them about this new way of testing.The DBS HIV test is a painless finger prick you can do yourself which only takes 5 drops of blood. It means you can get tested for HIV even if you don’t like needles, or you don’t have the time to visit the doctor to test for HIV.

You can order a DBS HIV test if you are a man who has sex with other men, you are from Africa or Asia or have (or have had) a sexual partner who is from those regions.

To do a DBS HIV test, you order the test online and it will be sent to you by post so you can do it where and when you like. Once you post the test back, it will be analysed and you will receive your results over the phone or via text message. A DBS test for HIV is completely free: it costs nothing but your time!

If your DBS test result suggests you might have HIV, a nurse will contact you to organise the next steps to confirm this and will provide support. For more information and to see if you are eligible go to hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au

A Dried Blood Spot (DBS) test is a free, convenient, effective and confidential HIV test you can do at home.

HIV is now a manageable health condition. The first step to living a healthy life with HIV is to get tested.

If you know someone who feels nervous about going to the doctor for a test – tell them about this new way of testing.

The DBS HIV test is a painless finger prick you can do yourself which only takes 5 drops of blood. It means you can get tested for HIV even if you don’t like needles, or you don’t have the time to visit the doctor to test for HIV.

You can order a DBS HIV test if you are a man who has sex with other men, you are from Africa or Asia or have (or have had) a sexual partner who is from those regions.

To do a DBS HIV test, you order the test online and it will be sent to you by post so you can do it where and when you like. Once you post the test back , it will be analysed and you will receive the results over the phone or via text message.

A DBS test for HIV is completely free: it costs nothing but your time!

If your DBS test result suggests you might have HIV, a nurse will contact you to organise the next steps to confirm this and will provide support. For more information and to see if you are eligible go to www.hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au