Want a free HIV self-test kit?

All you need to do is answer a few questions and provide a mobile phone number so that we can send you a code to access the free HIV self-test kit.

Once you’ve received your SMS then you can:

  • Go to a CONNECT vending machine of your choice.
  • Scan the QR code on the machine or enter the machine code.
  • Then your test kit will be dispensed.

The CONNECT Vending Machines are in the following locations:

  • All gender bathroom, L2, The Hub, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide
  • Level 3 (eastern wall of the main staircase to the Library), The Hub, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide
  • Pulteney 431 Sauna, 431 Pulteney Street, Adelaide
  • Student Lounge, Catherine Helen Spence Building, UniSA, City West Campus, 61-68 North Terrace, Adelaide
  • Student Lounge, Building A A1-45, UniSA, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes
  • Flinders University, Bedford Park, Student Hub Level 1, Corridor 127
  • Student Cafeteria, TAFE SA Regency Park, 137 Days Rd, Regency Park SA 5010
  • Adjacent to the library, TAFE SA Salisbury, 16 Wiltshire St, Salisbury SA 5108

We also suggest that you watch the instructional video before using the HIV self-test kit.

It helps to know what the steps are in taking the test. The video is available with subtitles in Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

The self-test kit includes instructions in English, but you can download them in Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Mandarin, Spanish, and Vietnamese from the CONNECT webpage.

For your convenience, you can access all translated instructions for use here. Simply click on your language preference and the instructions will download/open straight away.

Download instructions in:
English, Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Mandarin, Spanish or Vietnamese

Once you have registered for a HIV self-test kit, we will send you a short optional survey via SMS a few days afterwards asking about your experience.

YES, I want a free HIV self-test kit

I’ve taken the test

Now that you’ve taken the test you will have received one of three results:

  • HIV Positive
  • HIV Negative
  • Test did not work

Sometimes the test can be wrong, so any positive result needs to be followed up with a blood test with a doctor.

If your test says that you are HIV positive, this means that the test has detected anti-bodies and you will need to get a blood sample taken to confirm that you are HIV positive. Anti-bodies are what your body produces when HIV enters your blood stream.

If you would like the SAMESH Peer Navigator to support you in seeking a follow up test, please call: 0429 179 908

Alternatively, you can get tested at any of these places:

  • SHINE SA is a not-for-profit provider of primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing. SHINE SA provides nurse-led and medical clinical assessment, treatment and counselling services. You can call  (08) 8300 5300 to speak to someone or make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online: https://shinesa.org.au
    When you book your appointment make sure you tell a staff member that you have used a self-test kit from a CONNECT vending machine.
  • Adelaide Sexual Health Centre provides a free, confidential service. This includes advice, testing, and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. It is best to call them directly to book an appointment.  Adelaide Sexual Health Centre | SA Health
    Please inform the receptionist that you have used a self-test kit from a CONNECT vending machine.

If you are looking for a doctor who is closer to where you live or study, find them here: https://www.thedramadownunder.info/find-a-clinic/

If you need to speak with someone, you can call or email any of these services for support:

  • SAMESH provides support, education and training about sexual health and HIV for men who have sex with men and people living with HIV, as well as services for the broader LGBTIQ community in South Australia: https://samesh.org.au
  • SHINE SA is a not-for-profit provider of primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing. SHINE SA provides nurse-led and medical clinical assessment, treatment and counselling services. You can call (08) 8300 5300 to speak to someone or make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online: https://shinesa.org.au
  • PEACE Multicultural Health Services work with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, regardless of visa status. Their services include: MOSAIC, blood borne virus support services which focus on the health and emotional wellbeing of people living with and affected by HIV and Viral Hepatitis, and Indaba SA, a program designed for women living with or at risk of HIV:  PEACE Multicultural Services – Relationships Australia South Australia (rasa.org.au)
  • Relationships Australia South Australia is a not for profit, secular, community organisation that provides a wide range of services, including telehealth, for vulnerable and disadvantaged people: Telehealth – Relationships Australia South Australia (rasa.org.au)
  • QLife provides anonymous LGBTI peer support and referral via telephone and webchat. QLife services are free and support is delivered by trained LGBTI community members between 3pm and midnight every day: Get Help (qlife.org.au)

If you need to speak with someone outside of business hours, you can call LIFELINE on 13 11 14. They are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. LIFELINE provides phone, text, and online chat services for people in crisis.

This means that the test did not detect any anti-bodies and you can be sure that you don’t have HIV. Anti-bodies are what your body produces when HIV enters your blood stream.

However, with all HIV tests you need to think about the window period. The window period is the length of time it takes from when HIV enters your body to when antibodies are produced that can be detected by a test. For the Atomo HIV self-test kit, the window period is three months. This means that the test may not detect HIV that has entered your body in the last three months.

If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last three months, it is important to speak to a doctor or visit a sexual health clinic and have a blood sample taken.

For men who have sex with men, it is recommended you get tested for HIV and other STIs every 3 months, and at least once a year.

For women, it is suggested that you get tested for HIV at least once a year, and if you think you may have been exposed to HIV.

If the test did not work or the result isn’t clear, then it’s best to either do another test, or to follow up by getting a blood sample taken by a doctor. This will tell you whether you have HIV or not.

You can get tested at any of these places:

  • SHINE SA is a not-for-profit provider of primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing. SHINE SA provides nurse-led and medical clinical assessment, treatment and counselling services. You can call  (08) 8300 5300 to speak to someone or make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online: https://shinesa.org.au
    When you book your appointment make sure you tell a staff member that you have used the CONNECT service so that you are not charged a fee.
  • Adelaide Sexual Health Centre provides a free, confidential service. This includes advice, testing, and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Adelaide Sexual Health Centre | SA Health

 

If you are looking for a doctor who is closer to where you live or study, find them here: https://www.thedramadownunder.info/find-a-clinic/

You can always access another HIV self-test kit at any time from the CONNECT Vending Machine.

Information about HIV

HIV stands for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus that attacks your immune system. The immune system helps keep you healthy and fights off things like the cold or flu.

HIV is not AIDS, but if left undiagnosed and untreated, HIV can turn into AIDS.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and occurs when your immune system is badly damaged and you get very sick.

For more information on HIV and AIDS head here: https://hivstillmatters.org/

For information about HIV and other STIs in languages other than English head here: http://allgood.org.au/languages/

HIV is most commonly transmitted from one person to another during sex without a condom. During condomless sex, HIV is transmitted from one person to the other through fluid, such as semen (cum), anal fluid or vaginal fluid.

HIV can also be transmitted by blood when sharing equipment used to inject drugs.

HIV can also be transmitted from mother to a child during pregnancy, at birth or by breastfeeding.

HIV is treated with medication. The medication stops the HIV from attacking the immune system and it keeps you healthy. Find out more about HIV treatments here: https://www.treathivnow.org.au/

There are more ways than ever before to prevent HIV, these include:

  • Condoms, which stop fluids getting into your body: https://what-works.org/condoms/.
  • Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), which is a pill that you take before sex which prevents HIV from getting into your body: https://what-works.org/prep/.
  • Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which is a pill that you take after sex to help stop HIV getting into your body. PEP needs to be accessed quickly after being exposed to HIV to work: https://what-works.org/pep/.
  • Undetectable Viral Load, which is when people living with HIV take medication that reduces the amount of HIV in their body so that it cannot be transmitted during sex, even if condoms are not used: https://what-works.org/uvl/.

For information about living with HIV: https://samesh.org.au/hiv-health/newly-diagnosed/ or to watch people living with HIV talk about their experiences head to HIV Still Matters

Information about HIV testing

It is important to get tested for HIV and other STIs regularly, especially if you are having sex without a condom, have more than one partner, or if you change partners. The good news is that there are several ways you can get tested for HIV now.

  • You can get a blood test which involves going to a doctor or a clinic and having a sample of your blood taken by a needle and sent away for testing.
  • You can get a rapid test which involves going to a clinic or service and having a finger prick of blood taken and you get the results in 20 minutes.
  • You can use a rapid HIV self-test kit which involves getting the kit and doing the test yourself with a finger prick of blood and getting the results in 20 minutes.
There are some places that test for HIV more often than a usual doctor:

Rapido! is a peer-led rapid HIV testing service run by SAMESH. The service is open on Mondays between 3pm and 6pm. You can call (08) 7099 5300 to make an appointment or you can just walk in during opening hours and wait for the first available facilitator https://samesh.org.au/services/rapido-rapid-hiv-testing/

Adelaide Sexual Health Service provides a free, confidential service. This includes advice, testing, and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.  Adelaide Sexual Health Centre | SA Health

SHINE SA is a not-for-profit provider of primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing. SHINE SA provides nurse-led and medical clinical assessment, treatment and counselling services. You can call (08) 8300 5300 to speak to someone or make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online. https://shinesa.org.au

To find a location closer to you use the search function at https://www.thedramadownunder.info/find-a-clinic/

For more information on testing for HIV and STIs head to https://www.thedramadownunder.info/testing/

Supports and Services

  • Rapido! is a peer-led rapid HIV testing service run by SAMESH. The service is open on Mondays between 3pm and 6pm. You can call (08) 7099 5300 to make an appointment or you can just walk in during opening hours and wait for the first available facilitator: https://samesh.org.au/services/rapido-rapid-hiv-testing/
  • Adelaide Sexual Health Service provides a free, confidential service. This includes advice, testing, and treatment for all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV. Adelaide Sexual Health Centre | SA Health
  • SHINE SA is a not-for-profit provider of primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing. SHINE SA provides nurse-led and medical clinical assessment, treatment and counselling services. You can call (08) 8300 5300 to speak to someone or make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online: shinesa.org.au
  • SAMESH provides support, education and training about Sexual Health and HIV for men who have sex with men and people living with HIV, as well as services for the broader LGBTIQ community in South Australia: samesh.org.au
  • SHINE SA is a not-for-profit provider of primary care services and education for sexual and relationship wellbeing. SHINE SA provides nurse-led and medical clinical assessment, treatment and counselling services. You can call (08) 8300 5300 to speak to someone or make an appointment, or you can make an appointment online: shinesa.org.au
  • PEACE Multicultural Services works with people from culturally and linguistically (CALD) backgrounds regardless of their visa status. Their services include a Blood Borne Virus Program, and a program designed to help women living with and/or at risk of HIV: PEACE Multicultural Services – Relationships Australia South Australia (rasa.org.au)
  • Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia (MCCSA) supports and advocates for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds: mccsa.org.au
  • The Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC) specialises in humanitarian and migrant settlement and community capacity building and development: amrc.org.au
  • Rainbow Directory SA provides information and contact details for LGBTIQA+ services and activities across South Australia: rainbowdirectorysa.com.au
  • Dale supports same sex attracted men in heterosexual relationships who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression: dale.org.au
  • Pride Club is a social club for University of Adelaide students who identify as LGBTQIA+: facebook.com/Adelaide.University.Pride.Club/
  • University of South Australia Rainbow Club provides an inclusive, safe, fun, engaging campus environment and brings representation to students of diverse genders, sexes, and sexualities: usasa.sa.edu/Clubs/rainbow
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