Sexual Health Testing in Bristol
Why should I test?
If you are sexually active, regular testing is important to look after your own sexual health, as well as your sexual partners. You should test to know if you are HIV positive or negative.
If you are positive, the earlier you take medication the better. Taking medication to manage HIV will help you stay healthy and can prevent you passing the virus onto your partner.
When should I think about testing?
All types of unprotected sex (sex without a condom) carries a risk of contracting viruses like HIV, or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you have had unprotected sex or have a new partner you should consider testing for sexually transmitted infections.
If you are using condoms the risk is much lower, but nothing is 100%, so it is still a good idea to get tested from time to time. Even if you are with the same partner, it is a good idea to test yourself every 6 months.
If I test the next day after having sex, will it show up on my test?
If I test the next day after having sex, will it show up on my test?
No. After having sex with an HIV positive partner, or getting HIV another way like sharing needles, it can take up to 45 days for HIV to show up on your test. For example, if you take a test two or three weeks after you had sex, it may show up negative, because even though you have a small amount of HIV starting to multiply in your body, the test can’t find it yet.
So if you are testing within 45 days of having unprotected sex, it is worth repeating the test after the full 45 days have passed since your last unprotected sex with a partner.
Even if you don’t think you’re at risk, if you are sexually active it is a good idea to test every 6 months.
How do I test?
There are a few reliable, safe and easy ways test for HIV.
These tests are ones that you can do at home or in a private space without needing a trained professional to assist you.
You would have all of the equipment within the test kit to be able to carry out the test at home.
You can also go to a sexual health clinic or GP surgery or private doctor to have a blood test taken for you, from a vein in your arm.
There are three types of home HIV test that we use in Bristol, these are Self-Sampling and Self-Testing blood and Self testing Oral. (For more information see below)
For other STI testing such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea there are also self-sampling postal kits available from YUNO.
What is a self-test?
These tests are ones that you can do at home or in a private space without needing a trained professional to assist you.
You would have all of the equipment within the test kit to be able to carry out the test at home.
There are three types of home HIV test that we use in Bristol, these are Self-Sampling and Self-Testing blood and Self testing Oral. (For more information see below)
For other STI testing such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea there are also self-sampling postal kits available from YUNO.
You can get free HIV oral self-test kits from the CAB clinics at Charlotte Keel Health or Montpelier Health Centre as well as the CAB street team on outreach.
What’s the difference?
Self-sampling
Self-sampling tests are HIV test kits that instruct and enable you to take your own blood samples. You then send the sample to a lab by post (return free-post), the sample is looked at by a lab team and your results will be sent to you by text message.
Self-testing kit
HIV self-testing is where you can collect a sample of blood (from a small finger prick) or a swab of the inside of your mouth, and do the test yourself. You will see the result appear within a few minutes. These tests often have a results window like a pregnancy test. They are highly accurate, quick and usually painless.
How to use an oral HIV test kit
Where can I get HIV self-test kits?
Free Self-sampling kits from Yuno Sexual Health.
Oral Self-testing kits can be purchased at £15 from Terrence Higgins Trust.
Self-testing kits are also available from most leading pharmacies both online and in person at around £30-£35.
See step by step guides to self testing and self sampling.
How do I test in-person?
You can access in person testing with a YUNO professional and Common Ambition Bristol at Bristol’s only walk in clinic for African and Caribbean heritage communities at :-
Montpelier Health Centre Bath Buildings, BS2 5PT
The FIRST Thursday of EVERY month from 1.30-6pm.
(Last check-in 5.30pm)
Charlotte Keel Health Centre Seymour Road, Easton, BS5 0UA
The LAST Thursday of EVERY month from 1.30-6pm.
(Last check-in 5.30pm)
There is free NHS testing available 6 days a week at the Central Clinic at Tower Hill BS2 0UA. Call to arrange an appointment on 0117 3426900. For other sexual health service visit YUNO Sexual Health.
If you would like to get tested, and do not have any symptoms, you can request a free YUNO NHS postal test kit for STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV). The kit will be sent to you in a blank envelope with no reference to sexual health or testing. To order a kit, click here.
Yuno at Brook Bristol offer free STI testing for under 25’s at
The Station, Silver Street, BS1 2AG. Appointments and walk-ins available during certain times.
Clinic opening and phone line times;
Monday: midday to 8pm
Tuesday: midday to 8pm
Thursday: midday to 8pm
Saturday: 2pm to 6pm
Walk-ins are available: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 12pm-7pm.
There are no walk-ins on Saturdays – attendance only available by appointment or to pick up condoms. Walk-ins can get very busy, there is often a wait and not everyone maybe able to be seen.
To avoid a wasted journey, please arrive as soon as possible during walk-in hours or phone to make an appointment if it’s not urgent.
Tel: 01179 290 090
You can also test for HIV
-
- at your local or any NHS sexual health clinic (in Bristol this is Yuno)
- some GP surgery’s
- some pharmacies, where you can speak to a member of staff in private