HIV testing NYC, New York
Rapid, Accurate and Confidential

Question 1

What is the best screening test for HIV/AIDS?

Answer

Combining the fourth-generation test with the Ag/Ab test is best for screening for HIV due to the following reasons:

This test is the best at finding early HIV and chronic HIV
If the results are positive, follow-up testing should be done using the HIV 1 and 2 Ab test and the HIV RNA PCR test

Question 2

How are different HIV tests done?

Answer

Most HIV tests are blood tests.

Question 3

How long does it take to get the HIV test results back?

Answer

All HIV tests results are back 3–5 business days after blood is drawn.

Question 4

What do the HIV test results mean?

Answer

The table below summarizes what positive and negative results mean.

*Please note that after any positive HIV test, another test, usually of a different type, is necessary to confirm the results.

**If the HIV test results are negative, this is considered conclusive that the patient does not have HIV unless the patient is at high risk for HIV and the test was performed at a time when its accuracy is less than ideal.

HIV test name	Positive test result	Negative test result
HIV Ab	Might have HIV Confirmatory tests: Western blot HIV HIV RNA HIV p24	No HIV or Repeat HIV testing might be necessary if the exposure was less than 7 weeks ago and the patient was at high risk for HIV
Fourth-generation HIV (Ag and Ab)	Might have HIV Confirmatory tests: Western blot HIV HIV RNA	No HIV or Repeat HIV testing might be necessary if the exposure was less than 6 weeks ago and the patient was at high risk for HIV
HIV RNA	Might have an HIV Confirmatory tests: Fourth-generation HIV or HIV P24 HIV Ab	No HIV or Repeat HIV testing might be necessary if the exposure was less than 6 weeks ago and the patient was at high risk for HIV
HIV P24	Might have HIV Confirmatory tests: HIV RNA or HIV Ab	No HIV or Repeat HIV testing might be necessary if the exposure was less than 6 weeks ago and the patient was at high risk for HIV
Western blot HIV	Might have HIV Confirmatory tests: HIV RNA or HIV p24	No HIV or Repeat HIV testing might be necessary if the exposure was less than 6 weeks ago and the patient was at high risk for HIV

Question 5

Where can I be tested for HIV?

Answer

HIV testing can be done in primary care offices, urgent care clinics, gynecology clinics, planned parenthood clinics, community health centers, free sexual health clinics (offering free HIV testing), and our specialized STD clinic, that offers high-quality testing services and medical care.
For more sites, check the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Map of clinics located in NYC that offer STD testing.

Question 6

How is HIV transmitted?

Answer

HIV-positive people pass HIV when the biological fluid containing a high concentration of the HIV virus comes into contact with the bloodstream of the other person (who is HIV negative).

What kind of fluids?

Blood
Semen (cum)
Pre-seminal fluid (cum)
Rectal fluid
Vaginal secretions
Breast milk

How does this contact with the other person’s bloodstream occur?

Through damaged skin
Through wounds
Through mucous membranes
Mother-to-child transmission during the pregnancy

Question 7

HIV prevention: How can I protect my partner?

Answer

To protect your partner from getting HIV try to:

Have protected sex (using condoms) can significantly reduce the likelihood of sexual transmission of HIV. It will also prevent other sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis (partially), and herpes (partially).
Offer your partner to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication. If your partner takes this medication as prescribed, he/she will reduce the chance of getting HIV via sex by 99%.

Question 8

Does health insurance cover HIV testing?

Answer

Yes, all commercially available HIV tests are covered by health insurance.

If you want to be certain that your insurance covers the HIV testing, call your insurance company and ask them these questions:

1. What lab they prefer for you to use (insurance companies have contracts with certain labs for special pricing; examples of labs are Quest, Labcorp, and Northwell)

2. Whether the test you want is covered

If they ask you for ICD and CPT codes, give them these:

ICD B00.9
CPT 86695 or 86696

3. What your financial responsibility will be for the test (after any deductible or coinsurance)

Question 9

What does HIV testing cost if I don’t have health insurance?

Answer

If you don’t have health insurance, the office visit charge will cost you $84 cash (or $90 credit), and the HIV testing service is an additional $60 (all testing is done at certified testing centers).

Question 10

Where is STDcenterNY clinic located?

Answer

Our walk-in STI clinic is conveniently located on the east side of Midtown Manhattan near the Grand Central Terminal and the Main branch of the New York City public library.
Despite it being our only STD testing site, we offer health services to New Yorkers from all zip codes across all 5 NYC boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.

HIV test name	What it detects	Earliest time the HIV test can be done	Ideal time for HIV testing
HIV third-generation test	IgG, IgM	22 days after exposure 50% accuracy	99% accurate 50 days after exposure
HIV fourth-generation	IgG, IgM + p24	13 days after exposure 50% accuracy	99% accurate 44 days after exposure
HIV RNA PCR	HIV virus itself	10–12 days after exposure 90% accuracy	99% accurate 42 days after exposure
HIV DNA PCR	HIV virus itself	9–10 days after exposure 97% accuracy	99% accurate 42 days after exposure
HIV P24	P24 antigen	2 weeks after exposure 95% accuracy	99% accurate 36 days after exposure

HIV testing NYC, New York
Rapid, Accurate and Confidential

LGBT culture–trained STD physician*

AT A GLANCE

WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR HIV?

WHEN TO GET HIV TESTING?

HIV TESTING TYPES

HIV TESTING PREPARATION

Frequently Asked Questions

INSURANCES WE ACCEPT

Have a question?

WE CONSULT AND TREAT PEOPLE REMOTELY

HIV testing NYC, New York Rapid, Accurate and Confidential

LGBT culture–trained STD physician*

AT A GLANCE

WHO SHOULD GET TESTED FOR HIV?

WHEN TO GET HIV TESTING?

HIV TESTING TYPES

HIV TESTING PREPARATION

Frequently Asked Questions

INSURANCES WE ACCEPT

Have a question?

WE CONSULT AND TREAT PEOPLE REMOTELY

RELATED HEALTH TOPICS

HIV testing NYC, New York
Rapid, Accurate and Confidential