Rapid HIV testing is NOW available!

Rapid HIV testing (RHT) describes tests that can deliver results ‘while you wait' (usually within 30 minutes) at the clinic or other location, rather than the standard practice of sending the test off to a lab for analysis and awaiting results, which can take weeks. Up to now, Australia has been one of very few countries not to offer Rapid HIV testing, however, a new National HIV Testing policy has finally supported the introduction of RHT here and at least two companies have submitted applications to the TGA for their RHT's to be marketed in Australia.

Rapid HIV testing is now currently available to gay and bisexual men attending four sexual health clinics in Sydney. The clinics are participating in an ongoing study of rapid testing in Australia. The study's primary purpose is to identify the best way to integrate RHT into existing testing services and whether or not services need to change to provide it, and assess the patient experience of rapid testing and also the experience of staff who have been trained to use the rapid tests.

The Rapid test being used in the study delivers results while you wait and uses a small amount of blood from a finger prick. All results are confirmed by laboratory testing, but most men who take part will leave the clinic with their HIV test result on the day.

NB: A positive or reactive result on a rapid HIV test (i.e. the test ‘reacts' to the presence of HIV antibodies) is not a diagnosis of HIV infection, as rapid HIV tests can produce a small number of false positive results. For this reason, a reactive rapid HIV test result always needs to be confirmed by laboratory tests.

By joining the Sydney Rapid HIV Testing Study you can get a rapid HIV test and find out your results WHILE YOU WAIT at these participating clinics:

Albion St Centre 150 Albion Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 Phone: (02) 9332 9600	Sydney Sexual Health Clinic Sydney Hospital, Macquarie Street Sydney NSW 2000 Phone: (02) 9382 7440
Clinic 16, Royal North Shore Hospital 2C Herbert Street St Leonards NSW 2065 Phone: (02) 9462 9500	Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic 162 Marsden Street Parramatta NSW 2150 Phone: (02) 9843 3124

Please call the relevant clinic to make a booking.

More info

Contact: Lance Schema, Associate Director, HIV/Sexual Health
Phone: 9206 2050
Email: lschema@acon.org.au