You can get a test for HIV/AIDS at a clinic, hospital, or specialist HIV/AIDS voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT) sites.

During an HIV test, the healthcare professional may take a blood sample (from the arm or finger) or an oral fluid sample, depending on the type of test used at the site. The test is always strictly confidential and only goes ahead if you agree to it. No one should force you to take an HIV test.

Depending on the test used, it can take anything from minutes, to days, to weeks, for the results. When the results arrive, the healthcare professional will explain what the results means, and if they are positive, the next course of action regarding counselling and treatment

Before better drugs and treatments were developed, the progression of HIV to full blown AIDS used to be very fast. It would take probably only a few years. But in these modern times, it takes quite a long time for people infected with HIV to progress on to AIDS stage. Fact: Many HIV infected people who take their medicine exactly as directed by their doctor do not rapidly progress to AIDS

Anti-Retroviral Therapy

The progression of HIV to AIDS is slowed (never cured) because of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).  So if you have HIV, you can take ART to keep the level of the virus in your body low.

If you are able to consistently keep your viral load (level) low through ART, then it’s not likely that your HIV would ever progress to AIDS. This treatment will not only help you to keep strong and healthy, it will also reduce your risk of spreading the virus to your partner and others.