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Newly Diagnosed with HIV?

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If you’ve recently tested positive for HIV, it’s completely normal to have a lot of questions. We’re here to help guide you through the next steps.

What if your HIV

test result

is positive?

Most HIV tests are antibody tests. If you use any type of antibody test and have a positive test result, you will need a follow-up blood test to confirm the results.

If you had a rapid screening test at a community program or other location, the testing site will arrange a follow-up test to make sure your initial test result was correct.

If you used an HIV self-test at home, you should go to a health care provider for a follow-up test. A positive HIV test result must always be confirmed by additional HIV testing performed in a health care setting.

If you had a blood test in a health care setting or a lab, the lab will conduct a follow-up test on the same blood sample as the first test.

If your follow-up test is also positive, it means you have HIV.

What if
your HIV

test result

is positive?

Most HIV tests are antibody tests. If you use any type of antibody test and have a positive test result, you will need a follow-up blood test to confirm the results.

If you had a rapid screening test at a community program or other location, the testing site will arrange a follow-up test to make sure your initial test result was correct.

If you used an HIV self-test at home, you should go to a health care provider for a follow-up test. A positive HIV test result must always be confirmed by additional HIV testing performed in a health care setting.

If you had a blood test in a health care setting or a lab, the lab will conduct a follow-up test on the same blood sample as the first test.

If your follow-up test is also positive, it means you have HIV.

What does an HIV diagnosis mean to me?

Getting an HIV diagnosis can be life-changing. It’s normal to feel many different emotions.

A member of your HIV care team can help connect you with resources to cope with the emotions you may experience.

Your HIV Care team is also there to help you start treatment quickly.

Learning about others’ journeys with HIV can also help.

Start Treatment Right Away

Starting treatment within the first few days after your diagnosis can lead to better health outcomes.

Learn more about HIV treatment here
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The provider who gave you your diagnosis may also provide HIV care services. If not, they will help you connect with someone who can.

To find a provider, call the Health Information Helpline at (215) 985-2437. Staff is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or use our online tool to find a provider.

Find a Provider

Find HIV Care

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Find HIV Care

The provider who gave you your diagnosis may also provide HIV care services. If not, they will help you connect with someone who can.

To find a provider, call the Health Information Helpline at (215) 985-2437. Staff is available Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or use our online tool to find a provider.

Find a Provider
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Partner Services

When you receive a new diagnosis of HIV and/ or Syphilis, you will be contacted by someone from your local health department who will make sure you are aware of your status, ask about any potential partners who need to be notified, offer help with notifying partners to offer testing and prevention services, and help you find HIV care services if you’re not already connected to HIV care.

Sharing your

HIV Status

Telling others that you have HIV can be stressful, but we're here to help you manage these conversations.

What is HIV Disclosure?

Disclosure is when you tell someone that you’re living with HIV. It can be complicated, and there’s no one right way to do it.

To help you prepare, ask yourself these questions:

  • Who do you need to tell?
  • What do you want to share about your HIV status?
  • What do you hope they will do or say?
  • When is the best time to tell them?
  • Where is the best place to have this conversation?
  • Why are you telling them?
Two men hugging intimately with purple circle background

Choosing to share your HIV status is a personal decision. There are laws that protect your privacy and prevent discrimination.

Learn More

Want to Learn More about HIV?

Check out these other pages:

Treatment

With treatment you can reduce the amount of HIV in your blood levels so low it can’t even be detected. Learn more

Paying for HIV Care

Get HIV care and support regardless of your ability to pay. Learn more

Stigma

Learn about HIV stigma and how to challenge it. Learn more

Know your Rights

If you’re HIV positive you have the right to live a life free of discrimination. Find out how you’re protected. Learn more

Getting into Care

Know what to expect when you start care. Learn more

HIV Resource Finder Tool

HIV Resource Finder

HIV Resource Finder Tool

For additional HIV care and support services, including food delivery, legal assistance, mental health support, housing, and more, try our resource tool.

Find HIV Care Resources
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More Resources

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/newly-diagnosed.html

Telling Others | Living With HIV | HIV Basics | HIV/AIDS | CDC

Telling Others About Your HIV Status | HIV.gov

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Events

Consejos de usar el buscador de recursos:

  • Buscador: Teclea una palabra o frase en la casilla de búsqueda. Si teclee más que una palabra, se buscará cada palabra individualmente. Por ejemplo: Buscar “alimentos” o “banco.” Frases incluidos en comillas mostrarán resultos para la frase. Ej. Busca “banco de alimentos.”
  • Filtro: Si la búsqueda produce demasiados resultados, aplica un filtro. Ejemplo: busca “banco de alimentos” Y selecciona “condado de Filadelfia.”
  • Orden de los resultados de búsqueda: resultados estan ordenado por relevancia.
  • Empezar de nuevo: selecciona “Reiniciar” para reiniciar la búsqueda y filtros.

Definiciones de términos

  • Administración de casos médicos, incluidos los servicios de adhesión al tratamiento

    Ayuda para facilitar las necesidades de atención médica y salud mental de personas con VIH, proporcionando además servicios de apoyo.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia

    Ayuda a corto plazo para cubrir necesidades de emergencia, incluidos los servicios públicos, la vivienda y el transporte.

  • Asistencia financiera de emergencia para farmacia

    Ayuda para el pago de medicamentos.

  • Atención ambulatoria por consumo de sustancias

    Tratamiento por el consumo de drogas o alcohol en un consultorio u oficina clínica.

  • Atención de salud oral

    Cuidado dental.

  • Banco de alimentos / Comidas a domicilio

    Ayuda para obtener alimentos, ya sea en un banco de alimentos o con entrega a domicilio.

  • Educación en salud / Reducción de Riesgos

    Información y educación sobre cómo se transmite el VIH y cómo atender sus necesidades de salud.

  • Especialidad en adolescentes edades de 12 a 24

    Esta agencia se idenfica como proveedor de servicios para personas de 12 a 24 años de edad. La agencia puede proveer servicios para gente de otras edades.

  • Línea directa del Centro de excelencia PEP

    Línea directa para obtener medicamentos que previenen el VIH después de una exposición.

  • Prueba del VIH

    Prueba de VIH disponibles en un servicio de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios de atención primaria

    Servicios médicos de atención primaria disponibles independientemente de la capacidad de pago, el estado del seguro o el estatus migratorio.

  • Servicios de atención y apoyo para el VIH

  • Servicios de prevención de sobredosis

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH relacionada con el consumo de sustancias.

  • Servicios de prevención del VIH

  • Servicios de reducción de daños

    Servicios para prevenir la transmisión del VIH y las sobredosis. Los servicios incluyen el intercambio de jeringas usadas por nuevas, con el fin de prevenir el VIH y otras enfermedades transmisibles.

  • Servicios de salud ambulatorios / externos

    Atención médica para el VIH en consultorios u oficinas clínicas.

  • Servicios de salud mental

    Un consejero u otro profesional que lo ayude a abordar problemas de salud mental.

  • Servicios de salud sexual sin cita previa

    Atención en salud sexual, pruebas de STI y pruebas de VIH en una clínica de atención sin cita previa.

  • Servicios legales

    Ayuda por parte de un abogado.

  • Servicios lingüísticos

    Traducción de idiomas para el médico u otro proveedor de servicios.

  • TelePrEP

    Acceso en línea y por teléfono a medicamentos para prevenir el VIH.

  • Terapia de nutrición médica

    Asesoramiento de un profesional autorizado sobre qué comer según las necesidades médicas específicas y ayuda para obtener alimentos o suplementos nutricionales (como Ensure).

  • Transporte médico

    Transporte hacia citas médicas.

  • Vivienda de transición

    Ayuda para el pago de la vivienda destinada a personas con VIH que están sin hogar o enfrentan inseguridad habitacional.

  • Vivienda Ryan White

    Ayuda a corto plazo para pagar la renta.

Term Definitions

  • Adolescent Specialty Age 12 to 24

    Agency has identified itself as a provider of services specifically for the age group from 12 to 24. The agency may also provide services for other age groups.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance

    Short-term help paying for an emergency need, including utilities, housing, and transportation.

  • Emergency Financial Assistance Pharmacy

    Help with paying for medication.

  • Food Bank/Home Delivered Meals

    Help with getting food, either at a food bank or delivered to your home.

  • Harm Reduction Services

    Services to prevent HIV transmission and overdose. Services include exchange of used syringes for new syringes in order to prevent HIV and other communicable diseases.

  • Health Education/Risk Reduction

    Information and education on how HIV is transmitted and how to take care of your health needs.

  • HIV Care and Support Services

    These are services that are sometimes called “Ryan White Services.” They are services to provide HIV care or other assistance to individuals with HIV.

  • HIV Prevention Services

    These services are meant to help prevent HIV transmission. Some services are specific to people who are HIV negative, and other services are available regardless of HIV status.

  • HIV Testing

    HIV testing in a walk-in setting.

  • Legal Services

    Help from a lawyer.

  • Medical Case Management, including Treatment Adherence Services

    Help facilitating healthcare and mental health needs for people with HIV while providing support services.

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy

    Advice from a licensed professional about what to eat for a specific medical need and help getting food or nutritional supplements (such as Ensure).

  • Medical Transportation

    Transportation to medical appointments.

  • Mental Health Services

    A counselor or other professional to help deal with a mental health problem.

  • Oral Health Care

    Dental care.

  • Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services

    HIV medical care in an office or clinic.

  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Non-Occupational Exposures (PEP COE)

    A hotline to find medicine to prevent HIV after an exposure.

  • Primary Care Services

    Primary medical care services available regardless of ability to pay, insurance status, or immigration status.

  • Ryan White Housing

    Short-term help paying rent.

  • Substance Abuse Outpatient Care

    Drug or alcohol treatment at an office or clinic.

  • TelePrEP

    Online and phone access to medicine to prevent HIV.

  • Transitional Housing

    Help paying for housing for people with HIV experiencing homeless or with housing insecurity.

  • Walk-In Sexual Health Services

    Sexual health, STI testing, and HIV testing in a walk-in clinic.

Tips for searching this Resource Finder:

  • Search: Type a word or phrase into the keyword search field to view results. Multiple words entered into the field will be searched independently. Example: Search for: “food” or “bank”. Phrases enclosed with quotation marks will show results for the whole phrase. Ex. Search for “food bank”.
  • Filter: If a keyword search returns too many results, refine it by adding filter terms using the dropdown pickers and checkboxes. Example: Search for “food bank” AND Philadelphia county.
  • Order of results: Results are listed by relevance.
  • Start over: Reset the search and filters by pressing the Reset button.