HIV Testing: What You Should Know
Testing Centers - North - West - South
Why should you get tested for HIV?
o If you are infected with HIV, you can get into treatment that may help you stay healthy. American Indians have the shortest time between AIDS diagnoses and death. This may be due to the fact that many American Indian people with HIV do not get tested and find out about their status until many years after infection.
o If you are infected with HIV, you can keep from passing the virus to sexual partners, needle sharing partners, or children.
o If you are negative, you can find out how to stay that way.
Everyone should get tested for HIV especially:
o If you are sexually active and have had sex with someone with an unknown HIV status.
o You are uncertain of your partner’s risk behaviors.
o If you are a male who has sex with other males or you are a female who has had sex with a male that has had sex with other males.
o If you inject street drugs, especially if you have shared needles or other equipment with other users.
o If you are a health care worker with direct exposure to blood.
o If you have or have ever had a sexually transmitted disease.
o If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant.
o If you have had a blood transfusion between 1977 and 1985. OR your partner has had a blood transfusion between these dates and tested positive for HIV.
When is the best time to be tested?
About three months after engaging in any activity that could put you at risk. Standard HIV tests detect HIV antibodies in someone’s body. It takes the body some time to develop enough HIV antibodies to be detected on the test. In some cases it might even take up to 6 months after exposure. However, most people develop enough antibodies to be detected on the test three months after exposure. The period between infection and when standard HIV tests can detect antibodies is called the window period. If people get tested during this window period, their tests results could be negative even though they have HIV. If you engage in sexual activity or share needles to inject drugs it is best to get tested every three to six months.
What are the various types of testing out there?
Conventional Blood HIV antibody testing: Blood is drawn to be tested for HIV antibodies. Results usually take up to 2 weeks.
Conventional Oral HIV antibody testing: Swabbing of the gums to test for HIV antibodies. Results usually take up to 2 weeks.
Rapid Blood HIV antibody testing: Blood is collected from either a finger-stick or drawn from a vein. Results take up to 20 minutes or less. If tested positive a follow-up confirmatory test is done before an official diagnosis is made.
Rapid Oral HIV antibody testing: Swabbing of the gums. Results take up to 20 minutes or less. If tested positive a follow-up confirmatory test is done before an official diagnosis is made.
What types of services for testing are out there?
Confidential: Your name is given but only medical personnel and state health departments have access to the results. You must provide written permission before any information is revealed to others.
Anonymous: You are not required to give your name and the results are only given to you. This is usually done using a randomly chosen number that is assigned to you at the time of the testing.
Free: Some facilities offer free testing. At these facilities, HIV testing is free to all who choose to get tested.
Some health facilities may provide more than one of these services.
How old do you have to be to get an HIV test?
In Illinois, people 12 years and older can get tested for HIV without parental notification or consent. For laws in other states, click here.
Where can I get tested for HIV?
For a listing of Chicago locations, scroll down to see local testing centers. You can also visit www.hivtest.org or text your zip code to KNOWIT to find a testing location near you.
Information is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Your rights to confidentiality
Please note that your rights to privacy about your status are protected in the state of Illinois. For more information about your rights please visit the Illinois Legal Aid website for a comprehensive description of your rights in Illinois.
HIV Testing Centers in Chicago
North
American Indian Health Service of Chicago
4085 N. Broadway
Chicago, Illinois 60613
773-883-9100
Services Offered: Rapid Oral and Blood HIV-Antibody Testing and Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Test Positive Aware Network
5537 N. Broadway Street
Chicago, Illinois 60640
Services offered: Rapid Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Better Existence with HIV
1244 W. Thorndale
Chicago, Illinois 60660
773-293-4740
Services offered: Rapid Oral HIV-Antibody Testing, STD Testing
Chicago House and Social Services Agency Incorporated
1925 N. Clybourn, Suite 401
Chicago, Illinois 60614
773-248-5200
Services offered: Rapid Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
Howard Brown Health Center
4025 N. Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60613
773-388-1600
Services Offered: Rapid Blood and Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
Conventional Blood and Oral HIV Testing
STD Testing
The Night Ministry
4711 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
773- 784-9000
Services Offered: Rapid Oral HIV Testing
STD Testing, Hepatitis C Testing
The Night Ministry provides testing services throughout the city of Chicago with their Health Outreach bus. For information on how to access bus services, contact The Night Ministry directly.
West
CORE Center - Cook County Bureau of Health Services
2020 W. Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Services offered: Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Services provided on a sliding scale
UIC OCC Family Medicine Center
1801 W. Taylor Street, Suite 4E
Chicago, Illinois 60612
312-996-8337
Services offered: Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Conventional Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Free HIV Testing Services
Westside Holistic Family Services Incorporated
4909 W Division Street
Chicago, Illinois 60651
773-921-8777
Services offered: Conventional Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Free HIV Testing Services
West Town Neighborhood Health Center - Chicago Department of Public Health
2418 W. Division Street
Chicago, Illinois 60622
312-744-0943
Services offered: Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Conventional Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Gift House Incorporated
1309 South Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60623
773-522-2420
Services offered: Conventional Oral and Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
South
Chicago Department of Public Health
200 E 115th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60628
312-747-9500
Services offered: Conventional Blood and Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Oral and Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Komed Holman Health Center
4259 S Berkley Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60653
773-268-7600
Services offered: Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Conventional Oral HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Englewood Neighborhood Health Center- Chicago Department of Public Health
641 W. 63rd Street
Chicago, IL 60621
(312) 748-8900
Services Offered: Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
STD Testing
Luck Care Center – Southside Health Association
1701 West Monterey Avenue
Suite 1, Room 202
Chicago, Illinois 60643
773-233-5850
Services offered: Conventional Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Rapid Blood HIV-Antibody Testing
Free HIV Testing Services
