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Can a person be tested for HIV without going to a doctor?

Yes. A home testing kit is available at most pharmacies or by mail order. You prick your finger with a lancet and mail the blood sample to a lab. Three to seven business days later, you phone a toll-free number and, using a code included in the kit, access the results anonymously. Home Access is available online or by phoning 800-HIV-TEST. It might be prudent to be tested more than once, in case of error. If you're afraid of needles, there's an HIV test called OraSure that requires nothing more than placing a cotton pad between your cheek and gum for two minutes (check with your doctor or health department, or phone 800-672-7873 for information).