What to do after you test?

What to do after you take an HIV self-test

Congratulations on getting tested to know your status and take control of your health!
Remember, support is available to you before, during and after you test.
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I've tested positive

The HIV self test is a screening test. If your results are positive (reactive), it means that you likely have HIV but this needs to be confirmed with a laboratory-based confirmatory test.

You will need to see your doctor or go to a health care provider for this confirmatory testing. If the confirmatory test returns a positive result, an HIV diagnosis is made.

You may be feeling anxious, and some people may even get overwhelmed. Support is available. Please choose from the supports we offer, or reach out and talk with a trusted friend.

It is important to take care of yourself. Please remember, living with HIV doesn’t mean putting the breaks on living!

What’s helpful for you to know, and next steps:

chevron pointing down

It is important to take care of yourself. You can do this!

The HIV self-test is a screening test. If your results are positive (reactive), it means that you are likely living with HIV. This may be a lot to take in right now. You can continue reading or take a break and come back.

The most important next step is to take care of your immediate emotional needs. This may also be a good time to reach out to someone you trust for support. And there are resources in our “Get Support” section that can help too.

You should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible to tell them that your result was positive so you can get the information and support you need to take care of your health. The self-test you took is highly accurate however all HIV self-test positive results need to be confirmed by a lab test that your healthcare provider can order to give you a formal HIV diagnosis.

If you do not have a health care provider, select the HIV self-test guide below for the province where you live, or visit HIV411.ca to find help.

HIV self-test guides by province:

You can live a long, healthy life on treatment

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While there is no cure for HIV, HIV is treatable. The medications used to treat HIV are called antiretrovirals. They prevent the virus from replicating and slow its progress. Starting antiretroviral therapy early can lower levels of the virus to become undetectable, so that you can stay healthy. 

And remember, having HIV doesn’t mean putting the breaks on living!

U=U (Undetectable means untransmittable)

chevron pointing down

When you are on antiretroviral treatment and the virus is undetectable, you can’t transmit HIV to your sexual partners. Being undetectable also reduces the chance of transmission to needle sharing partners, your unborn child or through breast or chest feeding your child.

Share your results and stay safe

chevron pointing down

Your HIV test results are confidential, but it’s important to discuss your HIV status with your partner(s) if you feel safe in doing so. This can help ensure that steps are taken to prevent transmission. We also recommend encouraging your partners to get tested. There are partner/couples testing and counselling services available to help you learn more about staying safe with your partner(s).

If you test positive and are in a situation where you don’t feel safe - you’re concerned about possible violence or other harms from an intimate partner or family member, we suggest talking to a support provider before disclosing your results to that person. You can call the info-lines provided in the test kit package insert, view the care pathway in your province or visit HIV411.ca to find an organization that can provide counselling services and assistance in dealing with potential violence.

Book a virtual support session

chevron pointing down

The I’m Ready, Talk app connects you to peer navigators you can talk with via a secure tele-health platform. It's private and confidential. Visit the I'm Ready, Talk website or download the app from the Apple or Google Play stores to book your session with a peer navigator.

Learn more about testing and diagnosis

chevron pointing down

Testing is the only way to know for sure if a person has HIV. Early diagnosis leads to better health outcomes by enabling access to care and treatment. Testing is also a gateway to prevention services for people who test negative but are at ongoing risk. Visit the Catie.ca website to learn more.

I've tested negative

If your test results are negative, you may want to learn more about staying negative and reducing your risk of getting HIV.

And remember, if you feel you were exposed to HIV within the last 3 months, you should test again after 3 months to ensure you remain HIV negative.

What’s helpful for you to know, and next steps:

chevron pointing down

This result means that antibodies (your body’s immune response) to HIV were not detected and your HIV status is negative.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 3 months, you could be in the window period. This is the period before antibodies can be detected by the test, and we recommend you test again 3 months after the exposure. Regular testing for HIV is encouraged for people who are sexually active or use injection drugs.

A negative result is an opportunity to take steps to protect yourself and your partner(s) from HIV.

Support is available - If you want to speak to someone about HIV self-test results or prevention measures like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), go to the Get Support page on this website, call the information lines in the HIV self-test kit package insert, visit one of the HIV self-test guides below based on where you live or visit the HIV411.ca website to find help.

HIV self-test guides by province:

Concerned about exposure to HIV?

chevron pointing down

Maybe your condom broke, or something else unexpected happened while playing with someone. Taking PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) within 72 hours can dramatically reduce your risk of acquiring HIV. Go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible to get on treatment (a 4-week course of medications). This treatment can prevent HIV infection and is more effective the earlier it is started.

Protect yourself from getting HIV? Take PrEP!

chevron pointing down

If you test HIV negative but feel you’re potentially still at high risk for HIV infection, PrEP is a medication that you can take (daily or “on demand”) that is a highly effective HIV prevention tool available in Canada. As long as you take it as prescribed by your doctor, PrEP can effectively prevent HIV. Talk with your healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you.

Book a virtual support session

chevron pointing down

The I’m Ready, Talk app connects you to peer navigators you can talk with via a secure tele-health platform. It's private and confidential. Visit the I'm Ready, Talk website or download the app from the Apple or Google Play stores to book your session with a peer navigator.

Ways to stay negative

chevron pointing down

From safer sex to safer injections and other prevention methods, visit the CATIE website 'Prevention' section to learn more.

I've tested positive

The HIV self test is a screening test. If your results are positive (reactive), it means that you likely have HIV but this needs to be confirmed with a laboratory-based confirmatory test.

You will need to see your doctor or go to a health care provider for this confirmatory testing. If the confirmatory test returns a positive result, an HIV diagnosis is made.

You may be feeling anxious, and some people may even get overwhelmed. Support is available. Please choose from the supports we offer, or reach out and talk with a trusted friend.

It is important to take care of yourself. Please remember, living with HIV doesn’t mean putting the breaks on living!

What’s helpful for you to know, and next steps:

chevron pointing down

It is important to take care of yourself. You can do this!

The HIV self-test is a screening test. If your results are positive (reactive), it means that you are likely living with HIV. This may be a lot to take in right now. You can continue reading or take a break and come back.

The most important next step is to take care of your immediate emotional needs. This may also be a good time to reach out to someone you trust for support. And there are resources in our “Get Support” section that can help too.

You should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible to tell them that your result was positive so you can get the information and support you need to take care of your health. The self-test you took is highly accurate however all HIV self-test positive results need to be confirmed by a lab test that your healthcare provider can order to give you a formal HIV diagnosis.

If you do not have a health care provider, select the HIV self-test guide below for the province where you live, or visit HIV411.ca to find help.

HIV self-test guides by province:

You can live a long, healthy life on treatment

chevron pointing down

While there is no cure for HIV, HIV is treatable. The medications used to treat HIV are called antiretrovirals. They prevent the virus from replicating and slow its progress. Starting antiretroviral therapy early can lower levels of the virus to become undetectable, so that you can stay healthy. 

And remember, having HIV doesn’t mean putting the breaks on living!

U=U (Undetectable means untransmittable)

chevron pointing down

When you are on antiretroviral treatment and the virus is undetectable, you can’t transmit HIV to your sexual partners. Being undetectable also reduces the chance of transmission to needle sharing partners, your unborn child or through breast or chest feeding your child.

Share your results and stay safe

chevron pointing down

Your HIV test results are confidential, but it’s important to discuss your HIV status with your partner(s) if you feel safe in doing so. This can help ensure that steps are taken to prevent transmission. We also recommend encouraging your partners to get tested. There are partner/couples testing and counselling services available to help you learn more about staying safe with your partner(s).

If you test positive and are in a situation where you don’t feel safe - you’re concerned about possible violence or other harms from an intimate partner or family member, we suggest talking to a support provider before disclosing your results to that person. You can call the info-lines provided in the test kit package insert, view the care pathway in your province or visit HIV411.ca to find an organization that can provide counselling services and assistance in dealing with potential violence.

Book a virtual support session

chevron pointing down

The I’m Ready, Talk app connects you to peer navigators you can talk with via a secure tele-health platform. It's private and confidential. Visit the I'm Ready, Talk website or download the app from the Apple or Google Play stores to book your session with a peer navigator.

Learn more about testing and diagnosis

chevron pointing down

Testing is the only way to know for sure if a person has HIV. Early diagnosis leads to better health outcomes by enabling access to care and treatment. Testing is also a gateway to prevention services for people who test negative but are at ongoing risk. Visit the Catie.ca website to learn more.

I've tested negative

If your test results are negative, you may want to learn more about staying negative and reducing your risk of getting HIV.

And remember, if you feel you were exposed to HIV within the last 3 months, you should test again after 3 months to ensure you remain HIV negative.

What’s helpful for you to know, and next steps:

chevron pointing down

This result means that antibodies (your body’s immune response) to HIV were not detected and your HIV status is negative.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 3 months, you could be in the window period. This is the period before antibodies can be detected by the test, and we recommend you test again 3 months after the exposure. Regular testing for HIV is encouraged for people who are sexually active or use injection drugs.

A negative result is an opportunity to take steps to protect yourself and your partner(s) from HIV.

Support is available - If you want to speak to someone about HIV self-test results or prevention measures like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), go to the Get Support page on this website, call the information lines in the HIV self-test kit package insert, visit one of the HIV self-test guides below based on where you live or visit the HIV411.ca website to find help.

HIV self-test guides by province:

Concerned about exposure to HIV?

chevron pointing down

Maybe your condom broke, or something else unexpected happened while playing with someone. Taking PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) within 72 hours can dramatically reduce your risk of acquiring HIV. Go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible to get on treatment (a 4-week course of medications). This treatment can prevent HIV infection and is more effective the earlier it is started.

Protect yourself from getting HIV? Take PrEP!

chevron pointing down

If you test HIV negative but feel you’re potentially still at high risk for HIV infection, PrEP is a medication that you can take (daily or “on demand”) that is a highly effective HIV prevention tool available in Canada. As long as you take it as prescribed by your doctor, PrEP can effectively prevent HIV. Talk with your healthcare provider to see if it’s right for you.

Book a virtual support session

chevron pointing down

The I’m Ready, Talk app connects you to peer navigators you can talk with via a secure tele-health platform. It's private and confidential. Visit the I'm Ready, Talk website or download the app from the Apple or Google Play stores to book your session with a peer navigator.

Ways to stay negative

chevron pointing down

From safer sex to safer injections and other prevention methods, visit the CATIE website 'Prevention' section to learn more.