The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people ages 13 to 64 should get tested for HIV at least once, as part of their regular medical care. Anyone who is pregnant should also be tested. And people at higher risk should get tested more often.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends HIV testing for:

• People 15 to 65 years old as part of regular medical care.
• Anyone who is pregnant.
• People younger than 15 and older than 65 if they have a high risk for HIV, such as people who do things that put them at a higher risk for HIV. One thing that puts someone at a higher risk is being a man who has unprotected sex with other men. Another thing is sharing needles, syringes, and injection supplies with other people. The more high-risk things you do, the higher your risk.

You and your doctor can decide if testing is right for you.

Where can you be tested for HIV?

You can get HIV testing done in most doctors' offices, public health clinics, hospitals, and Planned Parenthood clinics. You can also buy a home HIV test kit (saliva test) in a drugstore or by mail order. Be sure to choose a test that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for accurate results. If a home test is positive, you'll need to see a doctor to have other tests to confirm HIV and to find out what to do next.