When To Test
When Should You Test for HIV?
QPP makes HIV testing fast, free, and easy. RAPID offers testing on the spot, with results in about 20 minutes. You can also choose to receive a home testing kit in the mail. Full details on the RAPID website.
Of course, you can also get a test at any GP in Australia, or at one of the sexual health clinics operated by Queensland Health in most major regional centres. You can find them here.
How often you test is up to you and depends on your sexual activity. Current guidelines recommend at least annual HIV screening for everyone, including most heterosexual people.
It’s a good idea to get into the habit of a sexual health check every year, even if you’re in a monogamous relationship.
For everyone who is more sexually active, you could consider testing more often, such as every 3 or 6 months.
If you’re a gay or bisexual man, testing every 3 months is typically recommended.
If you’re a sex worker in a licensed brothel in Queensland, you will need to have a sexual health check and get a certificate every 3 months. RAPID can’t provide this certificate because the clinic is run by community members and not doctors, but we can refer you to a worker-friendly clinic. Please feel free to give us a call, and you’re welcome to drop in for a test if you just want the results without a certificate.
As well as your regular sexual health screening, you might like to have an extra HIV test at times. If you have had sex without protection such as condoms or PrEP, you can visit our RAPID clinic for a test as often as you need to.
Because HIV can take some time to show up on a test, we suggest coming in after 6 weeks, then again after another 6 weeks to be sure if you are especially worried about HIV. You can test for other STIs sooner than this – please feel free to drop in or call us for more information.
Many people also like to have an HIV and sexual health test when they start a new relationship.
If you think you might have been exposed to HIV, you can access medication called PEP to reduce your risk. PEP is a 4-week course of tablets that must be started within 72 hours. It works best the sooner you start it, ideally within 24 hours. You find where you can access PEP here. We can help you get in touch with the right doctor in your area.
RAPID Website
Click to view RAPIDs website, which includes opening hours, information about the clinic and links to other sexual health information and services.
Our Clinic
Our discreet Fortitude Valley testing clinic is located at 725 Ann Street. We’re open Tuesday – Saturday. We don’t take appointments, just walk in.
Our trained team is here to help you should you have any questions or need support. You can call for free from a Queensland land-line on 1800 636 241 or call (07) 3013 5555 (national). You can also email us or use the contact form or the chat function in the corner of our website.
