HIV has not been a death sentence since 1996. On treatment — a normal life expectancy. Without a diagnosis — you do not know, and you may be infecting partners. Testing is cheap (often free) and fast. Every 6 months for MSM is the WHO standard.
If you are in the UK
NHS Sexual Health Clinic
Nearest clinic: nhs.uk/service-search. Anonymous, free, no passport, no address needed. Result the same day (rapid test) or within days.
By post — at home
SHL.UK (London) or SH.UK (England). Order a kit — comes by post, finger prick, post back, SMS with the result in 3-7 days. Free.
Private
Randox Health, Home STI test — £30-80. Faster if urgent. NHS is free.
If you are in Kazakhstan
Republican AIDS Centre (Almaty, Astana, others)
Anonymous by law. Free. Passport not required. Result the same day or within 24 hours.
Private clinics
Olymp, Invitro — 3,000-7,000 tenge. Anonymous.
At home
Home-test kits can be bought at pharmacies without prescription. 99% accuracy.
If you are in Uzbekistan
Republican AIDS Centre
Anonymous by law. In practice — sometimes data is recorded. Ask explicitly for "anonymous".
At home
Kits are sold in pharmacies. 20,000-40,000 sum. No documents.
If you are in Kyrgyzstan
AIDS Centre and NGOs
Labrys (Bishkek) — a trusted LGBT organisation, anonymous testing. Also the Republican AIDS Centre.
At home
Kits at pharmacies.
If you are in Tajikistan
Careful
Since 2017 Tajikistan maintains a police registry of LGBT citizens with forced HIV testing. Do not go officially. Test at home via pharmacy kits or via community orgs.
If you are in Turkmenistan or Russia
Turkmenistan
Minimal public information. Avoid official channels. Post from CIS — try a home test.
Russia
Anonymous AIDS centres operate. By law — anonymous. In practice — careful, do not disclose that you are MSM.
What to test
HIV
every 6 mo
for MSM
Syphilis
every 6 mo
often together
Gonorrhoea
every 6 mo
throat + anal + urine
Chlamydia
every 6 mo
same
The "window"
A rapid HIV test may not show the virus in the first 6-12 weeks after infection. The full assay (ELISA) has the same window. A PCR test can be done earlier — 7-14 days. If there was recent risk — wait 3 months for a definite result.
If positive
Treatment is free
In the UK — NHS, absolutely everyone, including undocumented refugees. In Kazakhstan, Russia — state programmes. In others — harder, but possible.
U=U
Undetectable = Untransmittable. On treatment the viral load drops to undetectable. You do not transmit the virus to your partner. You can have unprotected sex, children, a normal life.
Home Office / countries are not notified
The NHS does not share medical data with anyone. In CA AIDS centres — same, by law. Nobody is looking for you.