Prepared by: Bratislav Prokić, November 2022
Review: Prof. Dr. Biljana Kocić, epidemiologist,
Institute of Public Health - Niš
Where can I get tested for HIV?
HIV testing is carried out in institutes, community organizations, infectious disease clinics and private laboratories. The differences can be in the price, the type of tests, the time it takes to get the result, the degree of anonymity, the possibility to consult an expert and get the support you need.
What is voluntary, confidential counseling and testing (VCT)?
It is a service where you have a confidential conversation with a trained counselor, before and after the test. Whether you will get tested for HIV after counseling is a matter of your personal choice. The service is free for everyone, including foreign nationals. No instructions, personal documents, or your personal data are required (first name, last name, address, etc).
Where can I get voluntary, confidential counseling and testing (VCT)?
This service is available in Serbia in health institutions (for all citizens) and community organizations (for people at increased risk).
VCT at public health institutions is provided by 24 counseling centers for HIV, as well as at the Student Polyclinic in Belgrade. In addition to HIV testing, free hepatitis B and C testing is available, and test results are usually ready in a day or two (depending on the city).
Click here for a list of HIV counseling centers
VCT outside health institutions is provided by community organizations such as Potent, in cooperation with health institutions, and is intended for persons at increased risk of HIV infection, such as men who have sex with men, or sex workers. In Potent, in addition to HIV testing, free hepatitis C and syphilis testing is available, and the test results are ready in 15 minutes.
Click here to schedule a test at Potent’s checkpoint centers in Belgrade, Niš and Kragujevac
Advantages and disadvantages of testing in private laboratories
For testing in a private laboratory, it is necessary to leave personal data. The HIV test is not expensive, and the results arrive in two days via e-mail or can be collected in person. The laboratories do not offer counseling before and after the test (about the window period, the need for additional testing for some other sexually transmitted infections, vaccination and other types of protection, or about treatment in case of a positive test result).
If you are getting tested in a private laboratory, do not hesitate to contact us for support.
HIV testing at the infectious disease clinic
Infectious diseases clinics in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac primarily treat people living with HIV. Testing can be done with a doctor’s prescription. Non-prescription testing is done in emergencies, such as a needle stick or high-risk sexual intercourse, to introduce post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), in the first 48 to 72 hours, in order to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
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