What else might guys want to know about HIV testing?
I’m a trans guy. What should I know about HIV testing?
Should I test for STIs when I test for HIV?
Does getting tested cost money?
Can HIV tests give you incorrect results?
I’m a trans guy. What should I know about HIV testing?
Trans guys who hook up with other guys ought to think about whether they may be exposed to HIV, since they’re a part of sexual networks with higher HIV prevalence. Even so, the Trans Pulse Project reported that 43% of gay, queer and bi trans guys had never been tested for HIV.
Many trans guys have reported feeling uncomfortable going to clinics or talking with doctors.
Some clinics try to be inclusive of trans and gender non-conforming people in their policies or even on their intake forms. But some doctors, nurses and staff still say inappropriate things, misgender people, make assumptions about trans guys’ bodies or what kind of sex they are having, or don’t offer the testing that they might offer other men who have sex with men.
These experiences may turn you off the idea of getting tested. Being explicit about your needs sometimes works, and sometimes doesn’t. You might want to give yourself a pep talk, bring a friend with you to stay with you during the test, and let the doctors know if it’s your first time. Some trans guys find it helpful to combine HIV testing with bloodwork for hormone monitoring.
There’s a lot of helpful advice for trans guys at the Check it Out Guys Campaign, which talks about pap tests for trans guys, and at GetPrimed.ca, a sexual health guide for queer trans men, trans masculine, and non-binary people.
Should I test for STIs when I test for HIV?
Yes, you should, and you probably want to! You can ask for these tests at the same time as your HIV test. This is especially important because if you’re HIV negative, STIs can seriously increase your chance of acquiring HIV if you have condoles sex with a partner who isn’t undetectable, and you aren’t on PrEP. Just know that while it is possible to get an anonymous HIV test, your STI tests will be done nominally, so they are linked to your personal information.
Check out our other STIs page if you’re having symptoms or wondering about getting tested for them. Make sure you tell your doctor what kind of sex you got into, whether you used condoms or if you or your partner are on PrEP or have an undetectable viral load, and whether you have any symptoms.
Does getting tested cost money?
HIV testing is available in Ontario as a part of healthcare. For people who have an OHIP card, they can access these tests without paying. If you do not have health insurance, you can get an anonymous HIV test in Ontario without health insurance or personal information. Find somewhere in your area to get tested at this website or by calling the Sexual Health Infoline Ontario at 1-800-668-2437.
Can HIV tests give you incorrect results?
There are different types of HIV tests: diagnostic — usually point-of-care or self-tests — and confirmatory — blood tests with a sample drawn from you at a lab or clinic. These tests look for HIV antibodies in your blood. Sometimes, a Nucleic Avid Test (NAT) is done — again, through a blood draw — and this tests for HIV itself.
Somebody who has HIV might not receive an HIV-positive result from a test if your body hasn’t yet produced enough of the virus or antibodies to be detected by tests available in Ontario. That’s why we recommend frequent testing in the window period after every possible HIV transmission.
There’s a “window period” between the moment HIV transmission happens and when it will show up on an HIV test. This is based on the level of virus in your body and antibodies to the virus that become detectable over time. In most people, HIV can be detected as early as 2-3 weeks after transmission. In others it can take up to 3 months after somebody acquired HIV for antibody tests to show a positive result. NAT tests can be accurate within a few days of HIV exposure. Talk about the window period with the person giving you the test.
HIV-positive results are typically very accurate, and so-called “false positive” results are exceptionally rare. If you are concerned about an incorrect result, speak with your doctor or counsellor doing your testing. If you get a positive result from a diagnostic test (like a self-test), you need to go in for a confirmatory test as soon as possible.
Can I test for HIV at home?
Yes. You can buy at-home HIV tests from Biolytical, or order them from GetAKit.ca and ReadyToKnow.ca. Remember, if you test positive with an at-home kit, you need to get a confirmatory HIV test as soon as possible. Getting linked to care and treatment options as soon as possible is the best way to support your health in the long run, and to achieve an undetectable viral load.
