HIV/AIDS Resource Center > HIV Testing, Counseling and Referral

HIV Testing, Counseling and Referral

Topics

Hours and Location Who does the testing? What is the test like? What happens at the lab? When should I get tested? HIV Risk Assessment Social Networking Program

Something New: In an effort to continue to offer the best in HIV test counseling, HARC has developed an on-line HIV testing survey.  If HARC tested you recently,  please take a few moments and let us know how we did!    You can access the survey by clicking on this link: take survey now

Hours and Location

No appointments are necessary but please arrive 30 minutes prior to closing time to ensure that counselors have adequate time to provide testing. You can walk into the clinic or catch the Outreach Van at the following times and locations:

Clinic Location Clinic Hours
HARC 3075 Clark Rd. Suite 203 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 (Click here for a map to HARC) 734-572-9355 Tuesdays 11am - 8pm
Wednesdays 6pm - 9pm
Saturdays 10am - 2pm
Outreach Van
HARC provides anonymous and free HIV counseling, testing and referral services through its outreach van at a variety of locations in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area. These services are available four out of five days per week. Please contact Lemont Gore at lemont@hivaidsresource.org directly for more information about the outreach van schedule and locations.
Clinic Location Clinic Hours
Washtenaw Rainbow Action Project Community Center 325 Braun Court Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Sundays 5pm - 7pm
Clinic Location Clinic Hours

University of Michigan Spectrum Center Michigan Union Ann Arbor, MI 48109

 Mondays(During Academic Session) 6pm - 8pm
Clinic Location Clinic Hours

HARC Jackson, MI
211 W. Ganson St. Ste #110 Jackson, MI 49201

 Mondays (schedule subject to change) 4pm - 7pm

National HIV Testing Day events are a big deal for HARC, please check the HARC Calendar for details on all HARC sponsored National HIV Testing Day activities. HARC also provides HIV testing at local area drug treatment agencies. For schedule and details contact Calvin Dishmon at cdishmon@hivaidsresource.org or Benita Tucker at btucker@hivaidsresource.org. back to top Who Does The Testing? Our testing clinic is well-known for its friendly, comfortable and safe environment. All test counselors are trained and certified by the Michigan Department of Community Health. The testing clinic staff is very knowledgeable and is available to answer any questions you might have. back to top

What Is The Test Like?

At HARC, we offer free anonymous or confidential testing for HIV. If you decide to test anonymously, you will not provide your name. A testing number will be given to you and used on your paperwork. If you decide to test confidentially, a testing number, your name and other identifying information is place on your paperwork. All paperwork is locked away and only HARC test counselors have access. When you come back with your test number in 7 to 10 days, we’ll give you your test results. Test results are kept on file for 30 days, if you don’t come in for your results before 30 days, you will have to re-take the test. Another bonus with testing at HARC is that we use the Orasure device. The Orasure device collects a sample from the mouth. Even though saliva is not one of the body fluids that transmit HIV. The Orasure device collects a fluid called Oral Mucosal Transudate (OMT), which is used by the lab to look for HIV antibodies (your body’s reaction to HIV infection). The Orasure device is fast, accurate and there are no needles. Since taking an HIV test does not provide direct protection against HIV or other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), you will spend about 30 minutes talking with a test counselor. The test counselor will ask you challenging and personal questions and address any questions or concerns you may have. This conversation is very important, as its purpose is to help you develop a risk reduction plan which will help you in managing your risk against HIV and other STIs. After the conversation, you place the swab in your mouth between your cheek and gums for 2 to 5 minutes. Then we send the sample off to the lab.

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What Happens at the Lab?

The first test which the lab will run on the sample is called an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The ELISA does not look for HIV, it looks for the body’s reaction to HIV being present (antibodies). When a virus enters the body, the body develops antibodies to that virus. It’s the antibodies job to fight off the virus. The ELISA will look for anything that could possibly be HIV antibodies. That means the test is “sensitive”. If the ELISA cannot find any antibodies, the results will come back “non-reactive”, which could mean you have tested negative for HIV or, the lab received the sample too soon to find antibodies. It can take the body 25 days to 3 months to develop antibodies to HIV from time of exposure. If the ELISA thinks it sees something like HIV antibodies, two out of the three times, it is run then the lab sends the sample on to be confirmed. The confirmatory test is called the Western Blot. The Western Blot looks only for HIV antibodies. This means the test is “specific”. If the test finds HIV antibodies the results will come back “reactive”, this means the test results are positive for HIV infection. The accuracy of the ELISA and the Western Blot is 99%. back to top

When should I get tested?

It’s the antibodies to HIV being in the body the lab is testing for, not HIV itself. Because everyone’s immune system is different, each person’s body will develop antibodies at a different speed. This is called the Window Period. On average, it takes 25 days to 3 months (with most people taking 25 days) for HIV antibodies to show up in the bloodstream, from the time a person has been infected with HIV. Only you can determine how negative, a negative test result is for you. If for whatever reasons, you are not confident with your initial negative result, you can wait an additional 25 days and re-take the test. Be sure you don’t engage in any behaviors that could put you at risk of HIV (unprotected anal, oral, vaginal intercourse and/or sharing needles) during the 25 days you are waiting. In some cases it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV, but this is extremely rare.

HIV Risk Assessment

In the last three months, have you had unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with anyone whose HIV status you didn’t know, or whose status is different than yours?

Yes

No Have you had a sexually transmitted disease within the past five years, such as Chlamydia, human papilloma virus (genital warts), gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, or hepatitis A, B, or C?

Yes

No Are any of your current or past sex partners HIV positive?

Yes

No Have you ever exchanged sex for money, drugs, alcohol or a place to stay or have you ever paid a person to have sex?

Yes

No Do you use drugs or alcohol before or during sex?

Yes

No Have you ever used a needle to inject drugs into your veins or under your skin, including steroids?

Yes

No Have any of your current or past sex partners ever injected drugs into their veins or under their skin, including steroids?

Yes

No If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you may be at risk for HIV. This is not a medical diagnosis, but you may want further information on prevention and HIV testing. Consider the following resources:

Friends With Benefits Test Referral Program Do you want to join? Click here to find out more! back to top