Get Tested. Know.
The following information is applicable to residents of the the greater San Antonio area. If you do not live near San Antonio and you would like to be tested for HIV, visit hivtest.org to find a test provider near you. You can also call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) 24 hours a day, every day of the year, for information about HIV, STDs, and testing sites.
HIV Testing at BEAT AIDS
BEAT AIDS offers free, fast and confidential risk-reduction counseling and HIV testing. We have two kinds of HIV test:
Standard Blood Test: For this test, a phlebotomist will draw a small sample of your blood with a sterile syringe. With the standard test, we can also offer you testing for Hepatitis C and Syphilis, which are both serious diseases that can cause permanent damage to the body. The results of your blood test will be provided to you at a follow-up appointment 10 days to 2 weeks after the blood is drawn.
Rapid Test: BEAT AIDS also offers the OraQuick Advance Test, which provides results in as little as 20 minutes. For this test, you will be asked to swab your gums with a small plastic paddle provided by your tester. If this test indicates the presence of HIV antibodies, you will be asked to provide a blood sample to be sent to a lab for confirmation. It’s important to remember that although the rapid test is very accurate, a "positive" result is only preliminary and must be confirmed with a blood test.
Hours and Locations
At our offices, BEAT AIDS provides standard blood tests for HIV, Hepatitis C and Syphilis between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
We offer rapid HIV testing between the hours of 8:30 AM and 7:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Our offices are located at 218 W. Cypress St. in San Antonio, TX.
Street View (Interactive):
If you’re unable to come to our office, or can’t make it during our office hours, give us a call or shoot us an email…we will arrange for a tester to meet with you at a time and place that works for you.
Finally, you’ll see members of our prevention teams out and about in various nightlife venues and community events. They can provide you with information and an HIV test any time, so don’t hesitate to say hello!
About HIV Testing
All HIV tests are testing for HIV antibodies in your body. HIV antibodies are substances produced by your body as it attempts to fight an HIV infection. Only people who have been infected with the HIV virus have HIV antibodies in their bodies.
One important thing to know about HIV testing is that it can take up to 6 months for the body to react to the presence of HIV by producing antibodies. During that initial time period (called the "window period"), an HIV test would give a negative result, even though the person is infected with the HIV virus. For this reason, if you feel you may have been exposed to HIV, we recommend getting tested, and then coming back to get another test in 6 months.
