What is Testing Week?

It's your chance to get tested if you haven't done so in a while :)

From 20 to 26 may, exaequo offers you daily opportunities to get tested for free in Brussels and Wallonia. 

All HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C tests offered by exaequo for gay and bisexual men are free, anonymous and with immediate results. They allow you to take stock of all relationships that took place more than 3 months ago. A rapid test can also see a more recent infection (one or two months), but as it can also miss it, the result is only guaranteed for relationships over 3 months old.  

If you've already had syphilis in the past, we won't be able to perform the syphilis test. 

Please note that a rapid HIV test does not replace a PrEP follow-up. If you've been having sex without PrEP and without condoms, and you've recently contracted HIV and continued to take PrEP, the rapid test may not detect this new infection.  On the other hand, a positive result is always a sign of contamination. If you are taking PrEP, we advise you to follow up with your referral center or general practitioner. 

If you had high-risk sex (penetration without a condom and without PrEP) less than 3 days ago, you can go to an HIV referral center for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If taken in time, as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after risky sex, this emergency treatment can still protect you from HIV infection. Call us for more information (02 736 28 61) or consult this page.

When and where can I get tested?

In addition to the actions organised during Testing Week, there are also other possibilities to get tested:

Gay-friendly Healthcare Professionals

The mia center (free, anonymous screening) 

Planned Parenthood Centres (in French only) 

Order an HIV self-testing kit to do it on your own at home  Need more information? Click here!

What's the difference between a rapid test and a blood test ?

We say that the rapid test is "unmedicalized", which means that our activists are trained in screening but are not doctors or nurses. 

The rapid test gives an immediate result for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C, and is mainly used for contaminations over 3 months old (6 weeks for a laboratory blood test). 

Blood tests with doctors are often supplemented by urine sampling and smears (throat and anus). Since November, urine sampling and smears are no longer recommended for routine screening. 

You can find further information on this subject on the following page. 

To summarize : 

• Rapid test : 
  • STI: HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C
  • Window period: 3 months
  • Result waiting time: less than 5 minutes

• Laboratory screening : 
  • STI: HIV, syphilis, hepatitis A and B (if you're not already vaccinated), hepatitis C. If you have symptoms, notification from a partner and/or have relations with women: gonorrhea and chlamydia. 
  • Window period: 6 weeks for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis, 2 weeks for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
  • Result waiting time: 2 to 7 days