Are you positive you're negative? 

Find out with Rapid HIV Testing

IT'S FAST!
The OraQuick® Rapid HIV Antibody Test takes only 20 minutes. 
 

IT'S EASY!
Just open up and say "Ahhhhh!"  Clients insert the collection pad at the end of the OraQuick device (seen to your right) inside the front of their mouth and gently swab once, completely around both upper and lower outer gums.  The specimen that's collected on the pad is all that's needed.  There's no blood or needle involved.

IT'S ACCURATE!
Based on the results from a large controlled clinical trial, the OraQuick® Rapid HIV-1 Antibody test was shown to be 99.6% accurate for positive (reactive results) and 100.0% accurate on negative (non-reactive) results.

IT'S FREE!
Anonymous rapid HIV testing is provided free of charge by Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness HIV Prevention Services and Volunteers of America's HERO Project. 

Please note:  Rapid testing is offered by appointment only.

To schedule an appointment to receive a FREE OraQuick HIV test call:

Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness HIV Prevention Services at (502) 574-5600 or

Volunteers of America's STOP Program at (502) 574-5373. 

Our offices are located at:
850 Barret Avenue
Louisville, KY 40204

We can not share your test results with anyone other than you.  You will not receive a printed copy of your OraQuick test results because OraQuick is an anonymous test.  If you want or need a printed copy of your HIV status, we suggest you obtain a confidential blood test from Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness Specialty Clinic instead.  OraQuick testing is not offered at the Louisville Metro Health Department Specialty Clinic. 

Students of University of Louisville can access testing for all STD's with University Health Services (a.k.a. "Student Health").  To schedule an appointment call (502) 852-6479 for the Belknap Campus or to reach the Health Science Campus call (502) 852-6446.
Free Rapid HIV Testing with no needles is offered by no appointment necessary. 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
  Belknap Campus: 3rd Tuesday of each month
  Health Science Campus: 4th Tuesday of each month

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What does a Reactive test result mean? A reactive test result (referred to as a preliminary positive) means that there is an immune system response going on in the body of the person taking the test. This response could be HIV infection, but there are other things that can cause a reactive reading on the test. Thus it is necessary to follow up all reactive tests with a confirmatory test which involves a blood draw. You should take precautions to avoid any chance of spreading HIV. If you are infected with HIV, you may benefit from special medical care. New treatments may help keep you healthy even though you are infected with HIV. Some people stay healthy for a long time with HIV. Others may become ill more rapidly. See a doctor even if you don't feel sick. A doctor can help you to live longer. Other tests can tell you how strong your immune system is and what treatments might be best for you.
• What does a non-reactive or negative result mean? A non-reactive test result means that HIV antibodies were not detected in the specimen and the test result is interpreted as negative for HIV antibodies. However, those with a negative result but a recent exposure to HIV should get another test at least 3 months after the possible exposure. This is vital since antibodies sometimes do not appear until 3 months after infection with HIV.
• What does an Indeterminate Result mean?  Rarely the results will come back as Indeterminate.  An indeterminate result cannot be interrupted as a positive or as a negative test result; therefore it is not known whether you are or are not infected with HIV.  HIV testing should be repeated with a new sample.
• What is the "window period" for OraQuick? How soon after I am exposed to HIV will OraQuick show if I am HIV positive? The "window period" is the time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to develop HIV antibodies. Most people will develop antibodies within 4-6 weeks after infection. Some people may take longer; but 99% will have antibodies by 3 months following infection. The test may not give an accurate negative result if a person gets tested too soon after a potential exposure. Therefore, we recommend that people wait 3 months from the date of last time you were possibly exposed to HIV before being tested for HIV antibodies. You may have heard that HIV/AIDS can take years to be detectable. That is not true. Here's the clarification: AIDS, or the clinical symptoms that define this diagnosis, takes years to develop after exposure. HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- is detectable within three months after exposure, and does not cause symptoms in most people.
• Is OraQuick a saliva test? No. OraQuick does not test saliva, but OMT (oral mucosal transudate). OMT comes from the cheek and gum. OMT has high concentrations of IgG (Immunoglobulin G -antibodies specific to HIV); saliva has practically none. (Some people worry about deep kissing . HIV is not transmitted by saliva. The only way HIV could possibly be passed on by kissing is if there is blood from an HIV positive person present.) The swab draws out HIV Antibodies (not the virus). The counselor inserts the device into a vial containing a developer solution. In as little as 20 minutes, the test device will indicate if HIV antibodies are present in the solution or not.
• How often can I be tested?  If you are sexually active we recommend that you are tested every six months.  We will offer testing every 3 months but not sooner.  Since HIV anti-bodies may not be detectable for up to 3 months, it is not necessary or recommended for any individual to be tested more frequently than once every three months.  Upon completion of a successful counseling session, clients may chose to adopt safer behaviors which would prevent them from needing testing so frequently.

Click here to read the manufacturer's response to recent news concerning OraQuick results.

Click here to read the OraQuick Patient Information Pamphlet (PDF).

You can learn more about OraQuick by visiting the manufacturers website at: www.orasure.com