HIV Testing Harnett County Department of Public Health provides free and confidential testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs):
Testing is available Monday – Friday in Lillington and on Wednesdays in Dunn.
Please call (910) 893-7550 for an appointment.
HIV Testing
Why is HIV testing so important?
The only way to know if a person has HIV is to be tested for it. You cannot tell by looking at someone if they have HIV, and people who have HIV usually do not have any symptoms to know themselves that they have HIV or may mistake the symptoms for something else. Someone infected with HIV may look and feel healthy.
What happens during an HIV test?
During the test, a nurse or doctor will take a small amount of blood from a person’s arm. It will be sent to a lab that will test the blood for HIV antibodies. Antibodies are substances the body makes to defend itself when it is invaded by germs like HIV. People who have antibodies to HIV most likely have been infected with HIV. It usually takes about 2 weeks for the test to come back, and then the person must return to the place where they were tested to get the results.
If someone thinks he has been exposed to HIV, how soon should he be tested?
The tests commonly used to detect HIV infection look for antibodies produced by the body to fight HIV. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 3 months after infection, the average being 20 days. In rare cases, it can take 6-12 months. During the time between exposure and the test, it is important to avoid any behavior that might result in exposure to blood, semen, or vaginal secretions.
Who should be tested for HIV?
People at risk of HIV infection are encouraged to be tested. This includes people who share needles, have sex with anyone who injects drugs, and have sex with men who have sex with other men, or have sex with multiple sex partners or a partner who has sex with multiple partners. It can take several weeks for a person’s body to make antibodies to HIV. If someone tests negative after his or her first HIV test, it is a good idea to be tested again 6 months later. Again, an HIV test is the only way to tell if someone is infected with HIV.
Where can I go for more information?
For more information on HIV or other STD testing, call the
Harnett County Department of Public Health at (910) 893-7550 or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Hotline at 1-800-342-AIDS (2437).
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