HIV Testing Week – The first step to protecting yourself and others
The 17th – 23rd November is HIV Testing Week in Wales; a weeklong campaign aimed at raising awareness of HIV, the importance of getting tested and knowing your status.
With effective treatment, people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives, and treatment also prevents a person with HIV from passing it onto someone else. But many people still do not know their HIV status, or fear finding out.
HIV does not discriminate, and anyone can get the virus. Getting tested is the first step to protecting yourself and others.
If you have HIV, finding out your status means you can start treatment, stay healthy and avoid passing the virus onto anyone else. Also, the sooner you start treatment, the less likely you are to become seriously ill.
Alongside testing, using protection during sex is another key way to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Condoms are highly effective and available free of charge throughout CTM.
You can access them from our Integrated Sexual Health Clinics, C-Card venues (youth clubs, schools, colleges, some GP practices), Community Pharmacies and via the Sexual Health Wales website.
In Wales, anyone can order a free, confidential home test kit by following this link.
The test will arrive in the post and will come with instructions explaining how to use the kit in the comfort of your own home. Once done, the kit can then be posted back and the results will be sent to you, either via text or phone call.
Testing kits are also available from local community pharmacies and other community venues across Wales.
Your local sexual health clinic is also able to provide HIV testing, more information can be found here.
17/11/2025