I just recently purchased the Home Access HIV-1 test kit. I guess you can get tested at local clinics and such for cheaper or free, but I really wanted this test to be completely anonymous.

This test kit is FDA approved. They have two flavors. One is a result in 3 days and the other is a result in 2 weeks. I purchased the $59.99 3 day result kit.

They give you an 11 digit access number. I didn't want them identifying my home phone number so I called through a pay phone to register the number and get the results.

The kit includes everything you need. You essentially prick your finger, put the blood on a piece of paper, triple seal the sample, and then FedEx it to the lab in Illinois overnight. They include the shipping materials and packaging as well. After three days, your results are available over the phone and they have counselors standing by 24x7 to help you if the results are positive.

This was my fist HIV-1 test since I started in the hobby more than 3 years ago. I have had my share of BBBJ's and a few condom breakages during that time. I also had about 10-15 strokes of BB sex with a young girl in Nogales several years ago before I got wise, pulled out and used a condom. But for 99% of the time, I have ALWAYS used a condom during sex.

The fact that I felt my chances of actually having HIV-1 were slim, that still did not stop me from experiencing an incredibly nerve-wracking waiting period waiting for the results.

That being said, I would still recommend everyone in this hobby get tested once per year, no matter what. Early detection of HIV-1 is key and the drugs than can suppress the disease now are quite advanced.

I was very happy and relived when my results came back negative.

You can the Home Access HIV-1 Test Kit near the pharmacy section of most drugs stores. Information online is available at http://www.homeaccess.com/02/02/

Home test kits are also available from Canada: http://www.discreettest.com/index.htm They give results at home in five minutes, and claim to have an accuracy of 99.4%. They're not FDA approved, but if my guess is correct, this is probably the same type of test I recently heard the FDA was going to approve for use by emergency medical personnel.

If you live in San Diego County or if you just happen to be in San Diego you can be HIV tested for free. It is totally anonymous. It takes one week and you have to personally go back for the results.

You also can be tested for std's, with all the usual suspects checked and also hepatitis and herpes, all for $15. It is not anonymous, but it is confidential.

They will accept false information as I gave them Milkman's real name, address and telephone number when I filled out the form. They do not ask for proof of identification.

The people were very nice at the County health Department and very efficient. Their are several locations, but the main office is on Roscrans near old town.

There has been a HUGE push to develop and get approval for an "instant" HIV test. EMT's, police, and hospitals are all pushing for it.

So far, from what I have read, they are not accurate enough. It won't be long however, IMHO...

Curious

If within 3 minutes is instant enough, MedMira Reveal already has FDA preliminary approval and is about to get the final approval. OraQuick already has the final approval, has 99.6% accuracy, but takes 20 minutes.