Should you get tested?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends that all adults in the United States get tested for HIV infection at least once, regardless of risk factors for HIV infection, and that they be tested repeatedly if there is an ongoing risk of HIV infection.
The VA recommends that voluntary HIV testing be provided to all patients who receive medical care--even for those Veterans who do not think that they have risk factors. That way, people who are infected will be diagnosed early and can get the most benefits from treatment. They also can take steps to avoid spreading the disease to others. For example, a woman who tests positive for HIV during a pregnancy can take medication to help prevent her baby from becoming infected. Or, a man who thought he was HIV negative but finds out he is infected can take steps to avoid infecting his sex partner.