Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center provides HIV Antibody Testing to the general public. We offer free and confidential OraSure Tests along with pre- and post-test counseling in various Asian and Pacific Islander languages, including Vietnamese, Tagalog, Ilokano, Thai, Lao, Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese and Visayan. Interpretation services are available for other Asian and Pacific Islander languages.

Testing is available at our Wellness Wednesday Clinic. The clinic happens every Wednesdays of the month, 4:00p-7:00p at our offices at 730 Polk Street. For more information or appointments, call 415.292.3400 x304

Want to get tested for HIV, but can't get to our Polk Street offices during the week? AΠ Wellness Center now provides free anonymous or confidential HIV testing on Saturdays, from 11:00a.m. to 2:30p.m., by appointment. Call and arrange to have your test done on a Saturday. AΠ Wellness Center uses an oral HIV antibody testing method. For more information, or to make an appointment, call (415) 292-3420, ext.304, or call Amanda in the HIV Testing Department at (415) 292-3420, ext. 347.

Confidential Testing: We offer confidential testing in which only you and your health provider know your risk behaviors and results. Your records are kept secret from everyone except health professionals.

Anonymous Testing: Completely anonymous testing is also available upon request. Anonymous testing means no one asks your name. You are the only one who can tell anyone else your results.

The OraSure test uses a simple lollipop-like device to collect oral fluid from your mouth. Results are known in 1 week. They are about as reliable as blood testing. The OraSure HIV-1 oral test is an easy way to get tested for HIV infection. OraSure requires no blood or needles. The process take only a few minutes. Like a blood test, OraSure checks for HIV antibodies, not the virus.

A trained professional (your tester) will show what to do. Your tester will give you a special OraSure pad with a handle (the lollipop-like device). Using the handle, you place the pad in your mouth between your cheek and gum. Rub it gently back and forth until it is moist. After a few minutes your tester will ask you to put the pad in a vial. The pad is labeled and goes to a medical lab for testing.

People often ask how can we test for HIV in your mouth if you can't get HIV from saliva? OraSure checks for HIV anti-bodies, not the virus. A blood test works the same way. Saliva has never been known to infect anyone with HIV.

Our trained and certified staff can help you identify what activities put you at higher or lower risk for exposure to HIV. They can also work with you to find comfortable and feasible ways to reduce your risk, from discussing safer sex techniques with your partner, to demonstrating use of the female condom! There's no being bashful with us! Got other questions relating to health or social services? Call us at (415) 292-3400.

AΠ Wellness Center's testing counselors are as diverse as our Asian and Pacific Islander communities: they speak various languages; they are lesbian & gay, bisexual & straight; immigrant, refugee and American-born; female, man and transgender. We encourage you to specify who you would feel most comfortable talking to.

Volunteer Opportunity in HIV Testing: Support the work of the HIV Testing program by performing administrative responsibilities, outreaching at various A&PI community fairs and events. If appropriate and certified, volunteers will provide HIV test counseling services which include risk assessment, disclosure and referrals provision.

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Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center (AΠ Wellness Center) is the oldest and most comprehensive, non-profit HIV/AIDS services organization in North America targeting Asian & Pacific Islander communities. To meet the needs of our clients who are often immigrants or refugees, A&PI Wellness Center's staff speak different A&PI languages. [ Go to Services ]