For free, anonymous, and confidential HIV testing at a Tapestry Health location, call (413) 586-2016 within the 413 area code, or (800) 750-2016 from outside the 413 area code. You will not be asked to give your name when you call.

HIV Testing at Tapestry Health

Anonymous, and confidential HIV testing and counseling is available at all Tapestry Health sites throughout Western Massachusetts. We now provide the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV Test, an FDA-approved oral test that uses a mouth swab to detect the virus. Test results are available while you wait. The test is free for those who qualify based on income and risk assessment.

What To Expect

Having an HIV test can be stressful. That's why at Tapestry Health we try to make the process as easy as possible. You are free to bring a friend to your appointment, but there will be a counselor available to talk with you privately about any of your concerns. All counselors are trained professionals who are here to help and support you. Counseling sessions are a chance for you to ask questions, develop a plan to lower your risk of contracting HIV, and learn about your choices. Our counselors are not here to lecture or judge you. Rather, they can help you find more information about staying safe and healthy, and, if necessary, refer you to a doctor specializing in the treatment of people with HIV.

A typical visit, which includes testing and counseling, takes about 45 minutes. First, you will have a brief counseling session with a member of our staff, who will explain your risk for infection and work with you on a plan to reduce your HIV risk no matter what your results are. The counselor will also discuss how the HIV test works and how results are given.

The OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV Test

The OraQuick Advance HIV test is the most current test available. It uses a small cotton swab, which is rubbed between your cheek and your gums, to collect a sample. No blood is drawn. Test results are available while you wait—in as little as 20 minutes. During the time that the test is being processed, a counselor will discuss with you safe sex practices and other ways to reduce your risk of HIV infection. We encourage you to ask questions in order to make certain you have all the information you need to make healthy decisions for yourself and your partner.

Getting the Results

If a test is non-reactive (negative) it means that you are not showing any signs of being infected at this time. But in the event you may have been infected very recently, the HIV rapid test may not detect HIV virus. In that case, the counselor may make an appointment for another test at a later date.

If the test results are reactive (positive), you may be showing signs of HIV infection. The counselor will then arrange for you to have a blood test to confirm the results. You will be asked to return to the clinic at a later date to get the results of the blood test. If the blood test comes back positive, you will be given referrals for support services, including primary care doctors and HIV specialists who can work with you to get you the care you need. Keep in mind that testing positive for HIV only means that you have the virus that can lead to AIDS. It could be years, even decades, before you develop any symptoms of AIDS.

Cost

The OraQuick Advance Test is free for those who are eligible for MassHealth or who qualify as high-risk. The test is available at a reduced fee on a sliding scale for those who meet certain income requirements. The full cost of the test for others is $50.

How to Protect Against STIs and HIV/AIDS

The only way to guard against getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is not to have sex or to have sex only with a single partner who you know is free of infection. If you do have sex, you should use a latex barrier, such as a male condom, a female condom, or a dental dam, every time. Condoms provide protection against against STIs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Tapestry Health clinicians recommend using such barriers even in combination with other methods of birth control. Latex condoms are preferred to lambskin condoms for the prevention of STIs. Using a spermicide together with a latex barrier can also help keep you from getting an STI.