Window Period
When a person tests for HIV, what the test is actually looking for is not the virus itself but rather the antibodies to the virus. Whenever a person gets sick with anything, the body responds by creating antibodies to fight off the infection. Some people take longer than others to develop these antibodies. With HIV, there is a 2-week to 6-month window period. This means that a person might develop antibodies and be detectable on our test within 2 weeks, or it may take as long as 6 months for a person’s antibodies to develop. This is the “window period.” Therefore, you cannot be sure that you are HIV negative unless you test a full 6 months after the last time you did something risky. If you did something risky 1 month ago, you will need to wait 5 months, not doing anything risky, until you can be sure that you are actually negative.

Locations, Days and Times
Stanislaus County Public Health Department, 820 Scenic Drive, Modesto, CA.
Drop in clinic, no appointment needed.
Monday 1-3pm, Tuesday 9-11am, Wednesday 9-11am, and Thursday 4:30-6pm.

 Print out this form and bring it with you to your test visit and receive a free gift from the Public Health Department.

Stanislaus Community Assistance Project
605 15th St, Suite A, Modesto, CA.
209-572-AIDS (209-572-2437) Call for hours.
You can also request HIV testing through your local primary care doctor.

Standard Testing vs. Rapid Testing
Standard testing is the majority of HIV testing done in Stanislaus County. This means that a person’s test results will be ready 2 weeks after they test. Recently, Rapid testing has become available at selected sites. With this form of testing, a person will know what their test results are after 20 minutes. This is used especially with high-risk clients. Your HIV counselor will determine which type of testing would be most appropriate for you.

Anonymous vs. Confidential
Anonymous testing means that the person’s name is not collected. The person is assigned a number, and this number follows their test and results like a last name would.
Confidential testing means that the person’s name is collected and attached to the test result. Often someone will need a confidential test for immigration or if they are traveling out of the country.

Results
Possible results from your standard test are reactive (positive), non-reactive (negative), or invalid. Invalid test results could be due to a problem with the test itself or with the sample taken. If you have a Rapid test, your results could be preliminary positive, non-reactive (negative), or invalid. A preliminary positive test result is not conclusive and will be followed up by a confirmatory test. However, the majority of preliminary positive tests end up being actual positives.

  Are your test results ready?
If you recently tested at the Public Health Department at 820 Scenic, look below to see if your test result is ready. Match the 8-digit number at the top right corner of your red or purple Client Copy with the numbers listed below. If you see your number listed, you may come into the clinic any of the open hours (see above "Locations, Days and Times") to retrieve your results. Results are updated biweekly. Results are kept for 60 days from the date the test is administered, and then they are destroyed. If it has been longer than 60 days since you took the test and you did not receive your results, you will need to retest.