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HIV testing is available in the Barnard
Student Health Service for $20. The decision to get an HIV
test can be a difficult and very personal one and assessing
your potential risk and that of current and past sexual
partners can be stressful. Staff at the Health Service and
Well-Woman can help you sort out questions and concerns
about the test and whether or not testing makes sense for
you.
Here’s a quick overview of what testing
at the Health Service is like:
First, you have to make an appointment,
you can’t just walk in. Why? To receive HIV testing in New
York, you first have to receive mandatory pre-test
counseling. The counseling is really simple. You’ll be asked
about why you’re interested in HIV testing and about your
sexual history, and you’ll be asked to sign a consent form.
The test and how it works will be explained, and you’ll have
a chance to ask any questions you may have. Most often, HIV
test counseling is done by a Health Educator, Jessica
Cannon, who works in both the Health Service and Well-Woman.
At the Health Service, HIV testing is
confidential rather than anonymous. If you’d rather be
tested totally anonymously, the Health Service has a list of
clinics in the area that offer anonymous testing. The list
also includes clinics that offer testing for free.
While the Health Service tries to make
HIV testing as convenient a process s possible, the whole
appointment (with pre and post test counseling, the test
itself, and the 20 minutes wait) can take up to an hour.
Please consider this when scheduling your appointment! It’s
also important to remember that the test will be looking for
HIV antibodies: what your body would produce in response to
an HIV infection. These antibodies can take up to 3 months
to appear, so if you’re concerned about a recent potential
HIV exposure, now might not be the right time to test. You
can discuss this with the health educator or a Health
Service clinician if you have questions.
If you’re sexually active, practicing
safer sex (using condoms and dental dams) consistently is
the best way to protect yourself from HIV and other sexually
transmitted infections. The Well-Woman office has great
information about safer sex and talking to your partner:
stop by 119 Reid to speak to staff or peer educators during
our drop-in hours.
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