Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help you take steps to keep you and your partner(s) healthy. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. PEP may prevent HIV infection after possible exposure to HIV if it is started as soon as possible within 3 days after exposure to HIV. If you're pregnant, talk to your health care provider about getting tested for HIV and other ways to protect you and your child from getting HIV.Īnyone who has been sexually assaulted or has had a high-risk exposure to HIV should consider taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and getting an HIV antigen test that can detect infection sooner than standard antibody testing.
Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (for example, every 3 to 6 months).