Testing is available at a service:
Free HIV testing is available with a Medicare card through any general practitioner (GP) who bulk bills.
Find a general practice
If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last three months, it is important to speak to a doctor or visit a sexual health clinic. Like other HIV tests, the atomo HIV self-test has a window period of three months. This means that the test may not detect HIV that has been acquired in the last three months.
Some non-GP services and DBS tests are free even if you don't have Medicare or insurance.
DBS is a free finger prick test kit that can be ordered online and sent to your home or a mailing address of your choice.
You can order the test if you are:
You don't need a Medicare card but you must live in NSW to get the free mail order DBS test kit.
Get a mail order test
The best way to protect yourself and others from HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) is to practice safe behaviours:
Talk to your doctor about taking PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) – this is where people at high risk who don’t have HIV, take a pill every day to prevent them from becoming infected with HIV.
You can have a confidential conversation with a nurse about STI and HIV symptoms, testing, prevention and treatment by calling the NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 (freecall).
