HIV is treated with medicines called antiretrovirals (ARVs). Unfortunately, once you contract HIV there is currently no way to get rid of it, but ARVs can help reduce the active levels of HIV in your body and stop it from harming your immune system.

Once the virus has been reduced to low enough levels, HIV cannot be passed on through sexual contact, meaning people living with HIV can have active, healthy sexual lives.

People living with HIV can live long, happy, and healthy lives once treatment has started. Ideally, the sooner treatment is started the better your health will be.

The only way to know for certain if you have HIV is to have a test.

In WA, there are many ways you can have a HIV test, including:

• Visiting a sexual health clinic
• Talking to your GP, and
• Completing an at-home HIV self-test

HIV tests are easy, confidential, and often free at many clinics and will be covered by your Medicare.

There are many ways you can help prevent contracting or passing on HIV to others, including:

• Using condoms and lubricant
• Accessing treatment and maintaining an undetectable viral load
• Taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Taking Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
• Using sterile injecting equipment if taking recreational drugs

Atomo HIV self testing kits are rapid HIV tests designed to be done at home in a matter of minutes. The tests involve pricking your finger to draw a small blood sample and mixing it with the test fluid provided. The results will appear on the test after 15 minutes.

Tests are available to purchase right here at the M Clinic reception desk, from the Atomo website, or from the Pharmacy 777 locations listed below:

• Applecross – 777 Canning Highway
• Bridgetown – 27 Hampton Street
• East Victoria Park – 968B Albany Highway
• Mandurah – Unit 4, 10 Dower Street
• Perth City – 731 Hay Street
• Port Hedland – 9/150 Anderson Street
• Shoalwater – 117 Safety Bay Road
• Yanchep – Shop T16/18, 1&2, Peony Boulevard

Please note that these Atomo HIV Self Test kits do have an expiry date, so for accurate results make sure to check the expiry date before use. For assistance using or interpreting results, please call 1300 235 035

It is important to know if it has been more than 3 months since your last at-risk event. If it has and you have performed the test correctly, your results should be accurate and correct.

If your test result returns a negative reading, there is no follow-up needed (though we do recommend booking an in-person appointment regularly depending on your sexual activity, number of partners, and the length of time between your sexual health tests).

If your test result returns a positive reading, don’t panic. The Atomo Self Testing kit is a screening test. It is important that you have a follow-up test done at M Clinic, another sexual health clinic, or your usual GP.

If you are diagnosed as HIV positive (which can only be confirmed with a test from a clinic), you will be connected with a counselling service to help manage any anxiety you may be feeling, and then initiated on Antiretroviral (ART) treatment. Early HIV detection means treatment can start sooner, resulting in fewer (if any) complications to your overall health.

It is important to remember that thanks to advancements made in HIV treatment, HIV is now a manageable condition that can have minimal impact on your day-to-day life when treated correctly, and that people living with HIV live long, healthy, and active lives without fear of passing on HIV to others.