Getting Tested at the Schiffert Health Center?

 In conjunction with the Council of Community Service – The Drop-In Center, Schiffert Health Center will now be offering free, confidential HIV Testing to students on Tuesdays from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.  Oral tests will be used.  Please call 540-815-4664 or email Kristenr@councilofcommunityservices.org to schedule an appointment.  Please note that this is a  confidential, not anonymous, HIV Antibody test.   

General Information About the HIV Antibody Test

HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that is responsible for the disease known as AIDS. HIV can be transmitted when an uninfected person comes in contact with blood, semen, vaginal secretions, or breast milk of an HIV infected person. Most HIV transmission occurs during sexual activities - oral, anal, and vaginal - and when sharing infected needles. The best ways to avoid becoming infected with HIV are to abstain from sex and to never share needles. If you choose to engage in sexual activity, you can reduce your risk of becoming infected with HIV by using condoms with each and every sexual encounter. If you have engaged in behavior that involved the exchange of blood, semen, or vaginal secretions, you may want to consider being tested for HIV.

Confidential vs. Anonymous HIV Antibody Tests

There are several types of HIV test sites. Some sites offer anonymous tests and some offer confidential tests. If you choose anonymous testing, you will not give your name or any information which could be used to identify you. If you choose confidential testing you will have to give your name, address, local phone and you will be asked to give your social security number.  If you are being tested at the Schiffert Health Center's "TUESDAY" clinic you will only give your name.  If you are being tested confidentially AND you are positive, in many states, your contact information will be reported to the State Health Department (if required by state law, which it is in Virginia). The names of HIV positive persons reported to the State remains confidential at all times. Virtually all test sites offer, and require, pre-test and post-test counseling. Some test centers use blood tests other use oral tests.  Depending on the type of test you get, you may have to return personally in 2 weeks to get your results.

The Importance of the Word "Antibody"

The HIV antibody test is a test for the HIV antibody. It is not a direct test for the virus, nor is it an AIDS test. Because it can take your body as long as 3 to 6 months to form antibodies to HIV, you may want to wait at least 3 months from the time you think you were exposed to the virus to be tested. This means that if you were infected with the virus last week, it will take your body approximately 3 months to form antibodies to HIV (the actual length of time that it takes a individual to form antibodies to the virus varies - for the purposes of this test we use 3 to 6 months as the average). If you are tested immediately after your perceived exposure, your counselor will probably suggest that you come back for a re-test after 3 to 6 months.

Other HIV Antibody Test Sites in the Area.

If you are not a VT student or you would like to be tested outside of SHC, you can attend another site.  We recommend you contact the entities below to confirm that this information is correct, before going to the test center.

The Montgomery County Health Department in Christiansburg offers free CONFIDENTIAL HIV testing by blood sample on Mondays between 1-3 pm.  Appointments are REQUIRED. Call 381- 7100 EXT 0.

The Roanoke City Health Department offers free ANONYMOUS testing by blood sample.  They are located on the Corner of 8th St and Campbell in S.W. Roanoke. The official street address is 515 8th St S.W. For more information call 540-857-7600 Ext 312.

The Drop-In Center:  Offers free CONFIDENTIAL (note: not anonymous) using the RAPID ORAL TEST.  You can get results in 20 minutes with this test. You can Drop-In for this test any time testing is offered.  369 Church Ave, Roanoke.  Call Pam Medder 540-985-0131 ex402.

Your County or City Health Department:  For anonymous hiv testing, you may want to call your local county health department, or, if you live in a city, your local city health department. 

Use the "National HIV Testing Resources Locator":  http://www.hivtest.org/