The HIV test looks for antibodies to HIV, in other words, whether someone has been infected with HIV - the virus that causes AIDS.

HIV tests are available free of charge from NHS genitourinary medicine (GUM) or sexual health clinics. You do not need to be referred by your GP but you may need to make an appointment. Your GP will not be told you have had the test without your

permission. All information is kept strictly confidential.

If you are registered with a GP they may also be able to provide a test. In this case the result will probably be entered in your medical records.

To find out where to get a test:

• Contact the Sexual Health Information Line on freephone 0800 567 123. The Information Line provides free and confidential advice, information and support for everyone concerned about HIV and AIDS, including information on local HIV testing services. The Information Line is open 24 hours a day.
• Visit the 'Playing Safely' website at {link to 'where to get help' section).
• Look in the phone book under genito-urinary medicine (GUM), sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic, or the old term venereal diseases (VD) clinic.

If you ask for a test at a GUM clinic, you will see a doctor, a health adviser or a nurse practitioner in private. He or she will explain what the test involves and what the results mean. The test will go ahead only if you give your permission. A small sample of blood will be taken from your arm and sent to a laboratory for testing. It can take anything from a few hours to a week or longer before your receive your result. The doctor, nurse of health adviser will be able to tell you about this, and how you will be informed of the result.

If the result is HIV-negative it means that no HIV antibodies were found in your blood. This usually means that you have not been infected with HIV. However, it can take up to 3 months from the time of possible exposure to HIV before antibodies are detectable by the HIV test. You cannot be certain that you have not been infected if you test negative, unless three months have elapsed since the last possible exposure. Because of this, some people who have a negative test result may be advised to have another test later, to make sure.

If your test result is positive, you will have to have another test to confirm the result. HIV-positive means that HIV antibodies have been found in your blood and you have been infected with HIV. The doctor will discuss this with you and talk about the possible options for treatment and how you can look after your own health.

Being HIV-positive means you can pass the virus on to others, so always practice safer sex. Advice on this can be found on the playing safely website at {link to site}.

Further information on HIV and AIDS can be found on the NHS Direct website at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk