After that mail I just posted on the need to get tested I've got a few mails from people asking me where they can get tested in a safe and confidential way.
Ramki has written a response on the Movenpick list for Chennai which has useful information on testing in general so I am giving that below. If people have questions linked to that please ask, either directly to me at vg...@yahoo.co.uk or on this list. GB has done a couple of meets specifically on testing and we can look at doing one again if there is enough interest. As to where to get yourself tested in Mumbai the choice is between private institutions and public ones, the latter including bothy general resources like public hospitals, and community specific ones like the Humsafar Centre or the MSF Centre in Khar (though this clinic may have closed - the number I have is no longer working). These public/community centres are really the ideal places to get tested. The staff is knowledgeable about HIV and sensitised about the gay community. The results are given rapidly (within the same day now, if you go early enough) and, most important of all, you are given pre and post test counselling, meaning you are asked a bit about what you know about HIV, what your practices are (to judge risk level) and even basic stuff like do you know how to use a condom. Of course, all this may sound excessive when you just want to get it over with, but properly done this sort of counselling can be really useful. It normalises the issue, making it seem less like something shameful and secretive and to be rushed over with, and it can be really informative - especially the part about putting on a condom (don't worry, its done with a dildo, not real life!) which so many people screw up with! And if you do happen to test positive, then the post test counselling you get can be hugely important. The staff will help you deal with the shock, suggest what further confirmatory tests and diagnostic tests are needed, point you to other medical support, talk to you about general health stuff and so on. And yes, for those who have concerns about this, confidentiality is taken seriously. By contrast, most private testing centres are not st up for this at all. Forget pre and post test counselling - we keep hearing real horror stories about how badly people who test positive are treated. Even in this day and age you come across cases where staff won't tell them, refuse to deal with them properly, offer no sympathy or support and just make the person feel much much worse. And for all this you usually have to pay a substantial fee. Yet, all the time, its these private centres that people end up going to, rather than the public or community spaces. You get all sorts of reasons like fear of how you'll be treated in a general hospital, to fear of identifying yourself as gay if you go to a gay community space, or doubts about whether your confidentiality can really be maintained, to just unwillingness to go any distance from where you live and work. One really should try and get over these fears and access these community spaces which are much better from nearly every point of view. But look, what's important is getting tested and you need to do that in some way that feels OK with you, so just choose whatever you like. If this means you are choosing the private option at least try and minimise the problems by going to one of the large testing chains like Metropolis. In fact, let me go on a limb here and recommend you go to Metropolis. They seem to have the largest chain of testing centres across the country and withing cities. You can nearly always find a collection centre where you can give your sample near you and they may require you to go to main centre for the result, but sometimes will agree to mail it you. People ask about confidentiality and you do have to give a name, but no one will check if its your actual name or made up. You just need to remember what name you gave! (I had a friend who actually forgot his name and didn't know how to get the results he had paid for!) And of course you don't have to say you're gay or anything personal at all. You just say you want a HIV test, pay the fee and that's it. You will not get any counselling at places like Metropolis but at least in my experience of them, because they do such a lot of testing, including for HIV postive people, they don't have the prejudices that others might and treat you just like anyone else. So consider going there, but also please consider community specific spaces. In Mumbai you can get yourself tested at the Humsafar Centre in Vakola (acccessible from Santa Cruz station, on the east side). I just checked with Pallav and he says the centre is open from 12 to 8 pm and that results can be given on the same day if you go early enough. For directions to the centre and other details call 022-26650547 or 022-26673800. You can talk to Rakesh Thorat or Amit Jakhal. Here's the link to the Metropolis website which you can use to find a collection centre close to you: http://www.metropolisindia.com And here's Ramki's mail on testing issue and resources for Chennai: A quick follow-up to Vikram's post with a note on HIV testing and post-exposure prophylaxis. i. If you think you have been exposed to the virus through unsafe sex with someone who is HIV+ or of unknown HIV status, then you can get yourself post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 72 hours of the incident. The sooner the better. Depending on the nature of the exposure there are 2-drug or 3-drug combinations. It is best to consult a doctor. See guidelines at: http://nacoonline.org/National_AIDS_Control_Program/PEP_full/ - these are intended for healthcare workers who have been accidentally exposed through needle-stick or other injuries, but applicable to people who have been exposed through sexual routes too. ii. Some private labs in Chennai where people I know have been to, for reliable and confidential services, are - Ehrlich (http://www.ehrlichlaboratory.com/) in Royapettah: you can check your results on the web with an ID number) - Lister Metropolis - many locations (http://www.metropolisindia.com/chennaimetropolis.asp ) - YRG Care - http://www.yrgcare.org/care_clinic.htm (known to be LGBT-friendly!) - Sadhan Clinic in Parrys (not sure if they're still functioning). Apart from these, there are several government hospitals that run integrated counseling and testing centers (ICTC) including MMC/GH, Stanley, Kilpauk and the Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine in Tambaram. The last-named (GHTM) is one of the best facilities in Asiafor HIV care and treatment. iii. The most common type of blood test available is an antibody test, that checks to see if your body has developed antibodies in response to entry of HIV. For the antibody test to be reliable, it is best conducted after the window period - i.e. after a period of 3 weeks to 3 months. Antibody tests are free in most government ICTCs. iv. A more sophisticated test that can be used during the window period is the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test that directly detects pro-viral DNA. These tests are offered in private labs, and are relatively expensive (a few thousands) v. I request those on the list to share places where they have gone for HIV testing in Chennai and what your experiences have been. If you prefer not to post on the list you can email me or message anonymously using the online form at http://orinam.net/contact/ . I will share the information after removing your name and other confidential information. vi. HIV is only one of the many sexually transmitted infections around. Other STIs like syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, human papiloma virus, genital herpes, and viral hepatitis are also best detected and managed early. Many, though not all, are treatable. If left untreated they can increase the risk of HIV. See http://preview.tinyurl.com/cl2e6r8 for some info on STIs common in India. vii. If you know or are looking for recommendations for gay/bi-friendly doctors drop me a note or message anonymously using the online form at http://orinam.net/contact/ Ramki
