How to do a HIV self-test

Test your health in private with a free HIV self-test kit. Results take 15 minutes. All you need is a mobile number or email.

Before you do a HIV self-test

Watch the video before using the HIV self-test kit. It helps to know what the steps are before you take the test.
The video is available with subtitles in multiple languages:
Or, read the instructions in a language of your choice:
NSW Health would like to thank and acknowledge SAMESH for their generosity in providing instructions and videos in multiple languages.
Or, read the instructions in a language of your choice:
If you think you might want professional support available when testing at home, the best time to test is Monday - Friday so you can talk to a nurse at the Sexual Health Infolink if you have any questions. You can call the Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 Monday – Friday between 9am – 5.30pm. If you test at other times, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for information and advice.

How to read your results

Your free self-test kit includes instructions on how to use the test and read the result. After you do the test, wait 15 minutes (but not more than 20 minutes) before looking at your results. Your HIV self-test will show one of three results.

Positive

A HIV positive result looks like this:

While the HIV self-test is extremely accurate, if your result is a positive result, you will need to follow up and get a blood test

with a doctor to confirm your result.

If your result is confirmed positive by your doctor, they will talk to you about the next steps, including treatment, talking to your loved ones and other important things you need to know.

If you have tested positive for HIV, it is important you:

  • don't ignore the result.
  • start treatment for HIV as soon as possible. HIV treatment is free for all people in NSW (no Medicare card required).
  • connect with a doctor you trust.
  • practise safe sex.

Need help reading your result? Talk to a nurse for free at the NSW Sexual health infolink. Call 1800 451 624 Monday - Friday between 9am – 5.30pm. You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for 24 hour information and advice.

If you would like an interpreter to speak in your language, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. It's free and confidential.

Free and private follow up HIV testing

To find out where you can get a free and private follow up test, call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 251 624 Monday – Friday
If you test positive on a HIV self-test, you can a test at any of these clinics. Drop-ins are always welcome but in busy times there may be a wait. To avoid disappointment, call us first to make an appointment.

Liverpool Sexual Health Clinic

Phone: (02) 9827 8022
Website: Liverpool sexual health clinic website
Address: 13 Elizabeth Street, Liverpool NSW 2170

Opening hours:

  • Monday to Wednesday 8.30am to 5pm
  • Thursday 1.30pm to 7.30pm
  • Friday 8am to 4.30pm

This is a free and confidential service.
Medicare cards are not required.

Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic

Phone: (02) 9843 3124
Website: Parramatta sexual health clinic website
Address: Jeffery House, Level 1, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta NSW 2150

Opening hours:

  • Monday and Tuesday 9am to 5pm
  • Wednesday 1pm to 5pm
  • Thursday 4pm to 7.30pm
  • Friday 9am to 4pm

This is a free and confidential service.
Medicare cards are not required.

Pacific Clinic (Newcastle)

Phone: (02) 4016 4536
Website: Newcastle sexual health clinic website
Address: Level 2/670 Hunter Street, Newcastle West NSW 2302

Opening hours:

  • Wednesday 12.30pm to 4.30pm
  • all other weekdays 9am to 4.30pm

This is a free and confidential service.
Medicare cards are not required.


Sydney Sexual Health Centre

Phone: (02) 9382 7440
Website: Sydney Sexual Health Centre website
Address: Level 3, Nightingale Wing, Sydney Eye Hospital, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney

Opening hours:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 5.45pm
  • Wednesday 1.30pm to 5.45pm

This is a free and confidential service.
Medicare cards are not required.

The Albion Centre

Phone: (02) 9332 9600
Website: The Albion Centre website
Address: 150 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Opening hours:

  • Monday and Tuesday 8.30am to 5.45pm
  • Wednesday, 2pm to 5.45Pm
  • Monday and Tuesday 8.30am to 5.45pm
  • Thursday, 8.30am to 6.45pm
  • Friday, 8.30am to 4.45pm

This is a free and confidential service.
Medicare cards are not required.

Clinic 468 (Tamworth)

Phone: (02) 6764 8080
Website: Clinic 468 (Tamworth) website
Address: 468 Peel Street, Tamworth NSW 2340

Opening hours:

  • Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm

This is a free and confidential service.
Medicare cards are not required.

There are many other sexual health clinics that offer free and confidential services. To find the closest sexual health service, please click here. You can find other HIV testing locations here.

HIV is easy to treat so you can live a healthy life.

HIV is a manageable condition. Treatment is safe and very effective. HIV treatment is free for all people in NSW (no Medicare card required).

HIV is treated with tablets or injection. This protects your immune system and prevents serious illness, like AIDS. HIV treatment keeps you healthy and prevents passing it on to others. The sooner you start taking it, the better for your health.

People with HIV who are on treatment have healthy and long lives and can have children without risk of passing on HIV to their partner or family.

Support to tell partners

Positive Life NSW supports people who are diagnosed with an STI (including HIV), to notify or tell partners. Get the support you need with someone else (a peer) who has been through the process of notifying partners (sexual or injecting) themselves. Call 1800 245 677 or email contact@positivelife.org.au for support.

Negative

A HIV negative result looks like this:

If you test negative on the HIV self-test, this means the test has not detected antibodies. Antibodies are what your body produces when HIV enters your blood stream.

It takes time for HIV to be detected in the body. Most people who have been exposed to HIV will test positive within one month after exposure, but some may take up to three months. It is best to take another HIV test three months after the last possible exposure (like unsafe sex).

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 Monday - Friday between 9am - 5.30pm to find where you can get a free and private test. You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for 24 hour information and advice.

If you would like an interpreter to help you access health services or information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

You can get a free and private HIV test at:

NSW Sexual Health Clinics

These are free and confidential services for people most at risk. Medicare cards are not required. To find the closest sexual health service, please click here.

Your local GP

Fees may apply.

You can find other HIV testing locations here.

Worried you might have been exposed to HIV in the last few days?

If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last few days, you should start PEP as soon as possible. PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis and can prevent HIV infection. PEP is a HIV medication used to prevent HIV after you may have been exposed.

When PEP is taken within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure (the sooner the better), it reduces the risk of HIV transmission. PEP must be taken for an entire month after exposure to be most effective.

You can get PEP from the Emergency Department of most public hospitals and all sexual health clinics.

For more information and to find where you can get PEP, call 1800 PEP NOW (1800 737 669) or visit Get PEP.

If you would like an interpreter to help you access health services or information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

Protect yourself from getting HIV

If you are HIV negative, you can take PrEP to prevent HIV. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. PrEP is a medication prescribed by your doctor and is very effective at preventing HIV infection. PrEP does not stop you from getting other STIs so it is still important to use condoms.

For more information and to find out where you can get PrEP, call the Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 Monday - Friday or visit PrEP for HIV Prevention. For information and support at other times, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

If you would like an interpreter to help you access health services or information, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.

You could also use condoms during sex to prevent HIV and other STIs. Condoms stop HIV from being passed on. Make sure you change condoms with each new partner and when sharing sex toys.

Doesn't work

A failed HIV result (the test did not work) looks like this:

If the test did not work or the result is not clear, you should do another HIV self-test or get an HIV test at a health service. This will tell you whether you have HIV or not.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, call the Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 Monday - Friday to find where you can get a free and private test. For information and support at other times, you can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

If you would like an interpreter to speak in your language, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. It’s free and confidential.

Need help reading your result? Talk to a nurse for free at the NSW Sexual health infolink. Call 1800 451 624 Monday - Friday between 9am – 5.30pm. You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for 24 hour information and advice.

If you would like an interpreter to speak in your language, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. It's free and confidential.

You can get a free and private HIV test at:

NSW Sexual Health Clinics

These are free and confidential services for people most at risk. Medicare cards are not required. To find the closest sexual health service, please click here.

Your local GP

Fees may apply.

You can find other HIV testing locations here.

Support & Services

If you have questions about HIV, need to talk to someone about your result, or want to talk to someone going through the same experience, you can contact a range of free and private services. They offer information, counselling and advice.

NSW Sexual Health Infolink

For more information on HIV testing and treatment, talk to a doctor or call the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 Monday - Friday between 9am – 5.30pm. You can call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 outside of these hours.

Positive Life NSW

Offers a range of support options for people living with HIV. Speak to a Treatments Officer or a Peer Support Officer (another person living with HIV) who can offer support, understand the HIV medications, disclosure, living healthy and staying well with HIV. Call 1800 245 677 for confidential support.

ACON

Offers a range of information and support services for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Speak to a counsellor through ACON's new diagnosis priority service. Call ACON's counselling service on 1800 063 060.

Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service

MHAHS provides in-language support to people who speak a language other than English and who are living with HIV. For more information, call 9515 1234 or email info@mhahs.org.au.

Pozhet

An information and support service for heterosexual people living with HIV and their partners. Visit the Pozhet website for information and support.

healthdirect

healthdirect is a 24 hour health advice and information phone line. Get advice and information you can trust. Call 1800 022 222.

Lifeline

Lifeline is available 24 hours a day. You can talk to someone at any time by calling 13 11 14.

If you would like an interpreter to speak in your language, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. It's free and confidential.