Before you do a HIV self-test
How to read your results
Positive
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.
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
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
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.