Where to get Tested
Regular testing for HIV and other STIs provides clarity. In this way, you protect yourself and others.
Test centre
At a test centre, you can talk openly about sexuality and health. A test at a test centre is anonymous and straightforward.
An HIV test is possible 15 days after exposure, but you can only reliably rule out an infection six weeks after having sex. At that time, you can also be tested for other STIs.
Online home test
There are various providers of tests that can be ordered online and done at home.
We advise against such tests, as they don’t always meet our quality criteria and often involve too many unnecessary tests that can be very expensive.
Rapid test
You can carry out the HIV rapid test yourself with a blood sample from your finger. You receive a result in just a few minutes.
The rapid HIV tests available in pharmacies are recommended. However, they can only reliably rule out an infection 12 weeks after sex.
We do not recommend rapid tests for any other STIs. They are not reliable enough.
Surgery or hospital
You can also have all tests carried out by your GP, by a specialist or at a hospital. It is important that you talk openly about your sexual practices so that the right tests can be performed.
If your test is billed through your health insurance, it is not anonymous.