>Personal Health >HIV >Testing

Testing

There are two ways to be tested for HIV.

Anonymous Testing. With this test, no identifying information is taken (no name, address, social security number, etc.). County, state and zip code of residence and date of birth is all that must be provided. The person taking the test is given a bar code number, and must bring it back to be matched to the corresponding test result.

Confidential Testing. This simply means that a person's name, address, phone number and date of birth are filled out just like a medical record in a doctor’s office. The law (Florida Statues 384) requires persons who volunteer to be tested confidentially for HIV be informed that positive test results will be reported to the local county health department so that they may be offered follow-up services (medical treatment, partner notification and case management).

All HIV tests done at the Orange County Health Department cost $20.00. However, no one is refused the test because they can’t afford the fee. It takes two weeks before results are available. Results (both negative and positive) are given in person to the person who took the test. No results are given over the phone or through the mail.

All tests done by private physicians are at various prices (all higher), and take anywhere from 3-7 days before results are available.

Rapid Test Sites (Community Based Organizations) do free testing. Results are available in 20 minutes.