HIV Test?

[GoGoKokiGo]

Has anyone taken one of these? I went to family planning cause my girlfriend was telling me how important it was to get a pap smear, so I went with her. I guess on your first visit to the clinic we went to makes you take an HIV test.

I was nervous because that was my first time going to that type of doctor and adding having someone take my blood made it much worse. I hate needles altogether and usually I always have trouble with getting blood taken. I guess my veins roll or something. (But I heard that's an excuse used when the people taking the blood aren't really good at it.) After the guy got my blood he picked up the little tube and started sort of twirling it around like a mini baton. I busted up laughing when I saw him doing that, then he looked me right in the face and went..."Are you okay?" I thought he was doing that to make me laugh. Turned out I was wrong. *Embarrass*

[karenkpc]

actually, rolling veins are a real situation (have been a phlebotomist in a past life), and the twirling of the tube may have been to mix the additive in the bottom of the tube, although my recollection is that HIV is drawn in a red or tiger top tube, which don't require that. 
I've had many HIV tests (occupational exposure hazard in a lab).  the waiting sucks for sure.  good thoughts...

[GoGoKokiGo]

  I'm not really worried about it, I just thought it was funny when he started twirling it around. I think it might have been a mix of nerves and seeing my blood in a tube.

[Valerie1979]

HIV tests are certainly a good idea....

I have bad veins for blood draw --- you have to drink lots of water!

[lilblondiemjd]

That's a smart thing to do. I need to get one. I've gotten tested for everything else, but I plan on getting tested soon. I'm not high risk, but I still think it's important!

[home_teachin]

I've been tested even though I wasn't high risk. It's just good to know I don't have it.

[tzs]

actually, rolling veins are a real situation (have been a phlebotomist in a past life), and the twirling of the tube may have been to mix the additive in the bottom of the tube, although my recollection is that HIV is drawn in a red or tiger top tube, which don't require that. 
I've had many HIV tests (occupational exposure hazard in a lab).  the waiting sucks for sure.  good thoughts...

I am a phleb too! Haven't practiced for a while, but its something you never forget, Ive actually seen someone who was drawing blood with me get squirted in the eye with blood when she entered the same venipuncture site( backpressure from the tournequit was ready to roll!!) She had to go through propholaxis, which I hear is very painfull, luckily I havent had that kind of exposure yet, hard to believe, because I was working in drug research drawing over 100-1000 people a day! Rock on! and good luck GokokiGo!!!! 

[tzs]

Yes, the waiting is the hard part, hopefully he was a good phlebotomist, but know that the labs are only trying to be thourough with the results.  They have alot of standards and lab protocol that they have to go through to get it right, reguardless of the result they have your best interest at heart......

Good luck