February 24, 2010 | Health Matters

A small prick for peace of mind

One of the biggest weapons we have in the fight against HIV is for every gay man to know his own HIV status. The best way to do this is to be tested regularly  -- and now you don't have to wait an agonizing two weeks to get your results!

The Rapid Point-of-Care HIV Test is available in most large cities throughout North America and can be done quickly, safely and anonymously. With a painless finger prick, your blood is collected and placed onto the tester. Within seconds the test is complete. A negative test is 99.5% accurate - the same accuracy rate as the more familiar blood test - though any positive result will require follow-up testing. With pre-test counseling, the test and post-test counseling, you can be in and out of the clinic in 10 to 15 minutes.

There was some controversy about these rapid tests several years ago. Researchers were finding that the test being used may have given some people a false negative result. The test was recalled in some states and in Canada. This new test has since been approved for use and is manufactured by a different company.

Your local HIV organization can help you track down a clinic close by. If you're not sure of where to call, here's a directory of  HIV hotlines and organizations. Remember, knowledge is power!