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TESTING — Knowledge is power Where to Get Tested in and Around Boulder BCAP maintains a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boulder Public Health Department for HIV testing and counseling. BCAP does not provide regular in-house testing hours to the general population, instead referring these appointments to Boulder Public Health. However, through state funding, BCAP prevention programs Atlas and Hispanos Para la Salud provide free HIV testing to men who have sex with men (MSM) and Latino/Hispanic individuals, respectively. Please use the below contact information to access staff members of those programs.
When to Get Tested Window period: When testing for HIV, keep in mind the "window period" that exists between the time of infection and the time HIV antibodies are detectable in blood, plasma or saliva. When the body is infected with a virus such as HIV, the body's immune system initiates a response to fight the infection. Antibodies are part of the fight and are released into the bloodstream after infection. The defined window period for HIV antibodies is 3 months, with the possibility of up to 6 months in individuals with an already compromised immune system. However, a majority of the population will produce HIV antibodies before the 3 month mark, usually 3-4 weeks after exposure. In other words, when getting tested for HIV, think about the last possible exposure you experienced. If this occurrence was within the last three months, the test may or may not be accurate (your body may not have yet produced HIV antibodies), meaning that you should retest again at the 3 month mark. What to Expect During the Testing Session When getting tested for HIV using a rapid antibody test, one of two options will most likely be offered: Uni-Gold or OraQuick Advance. If you want to be tested using a specific device, you may want to call ahead and confirm with the testing site which type of HIV test is going to be used during the session. Sometimes agencies use only OraQuick Advance or only Uni-Gold. Uni-Gold is an HIV antibody test that requires a small collection of blood through a finger prick to detect HIV antibodies. Uni-Gold checks for HIV antibodies, not the actual virus. A trained professional (your tester) will prick your finger and collect a blood sample with a small pipette. The blood sample is then transferred to a pad where it is mixed with developing solution. During the testing and counseling session, you will have the opportunity to discuss your risk for HIV, get your questions answered and receive referrals for other services related to your sexual health as needed. Uni-Gold tests for HIV 1 and takes 10 minutes to receive a result. Uni-Gold is capable of detecting HIV antibodies (if they are present) 4-6 weeks after exposure. OraQuick Advance is an HIV antibody test that requires a small collection of a mucosal sample to detect HIV antibodies. OraQuick Advance checks for HIV antibodies, not the actual virus. A trained professional (your tester) will have you swab your mouth with a padded device. The device is then transferred to a vial where it is mixed with a developing solution. During the testing and counseling session you will have the opportunity to discuss your risk for HIV, get your questions answered and receive referrals for other services related to your sexual health if needed. OraQuick Advance tests for both HIV 1 and HIV 2 and takes 20 minutes to receive a result. OraQuick is capable of detecting HIV antibodies (if they are present) as early as 3 weeks after exposure but may not be able to detect antibodies for up to 3 months.
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