Skip to content

Easy-to-read and illustrated information on why it is better to have an HIV test and know your HIV status.

The sooner you know you have HIV, the sooner you can get the medical care you need. Finding out you have HIV can be hard, but in terms of looking after your health, it's much better to know.

Download the digital leaflet

296.59KB
Better off knowing

Download the A4 leaflet

321.17KB
Better off knowing
Roger Pebody

Roger Pebody

Commissioning Editor

Roger joined aidsmap in 2008 and was Managing Editor from 2018 to 2024. As a freelancer, he now edits aidsmap’s news and conference coverage, as well as working on updates to About HIV pages. He is also a contributing science editor for TheBodyPro, a freelance journalist for The Lancet HIV, and a medical writer helping researchers prepare articles for peer-reviewed journals. He began working on HIV at Gay Men Fighting AIDS in the mid-1990s.

Basic information

Testing

Testing basics leaflet.

Myths and facts

Myths and facts

Very recent infection

Very recent infection

Early HIV infection

A woman site on the sofa with a blanket over her and around her shoulders.

HIV testing

A close-up of a glass receptacle which contains a testing vial. This vial is labelled as being ready to receive blood for an HIV test. The image has a pink and purple filter over it. The image has a pink and purple filter over it.

What is the window period for HIV testing?

A person wearing a surgical glove holds the hand of somebody else. This person is having their finger pricked with a fine needle. The needle has drawn a small amount of blood which is visible. The image has a pink and purple filter over it.