How To Get a Free HIV Test at Community

According to HIV.gov, the CDC’s website for HIV, 1 in 7 people with HIV don’t know they have it. If you need free HIV testing, Community has your back. No matter what your risk is or how often you need testing, we’re here to help with a location on the east side of Indianapolis.

Who Can Get HIV?

Anyone can get HIV, but there are some people who are at higher risk:

• Trans women and men who have sex with men are at high risk.
• One in 16 Black men are HIV positive, and one in 32 Black women are, too.
• Half of Black men who have sex with men are HIV positive.

When Should I Get Tested?

You can test positive for HIV even if you don’t have any symptoms, even up to 10 years later. That’s why it’s so important for everyone between age 14–64 to get tested once in their lifetime.

If you’re sexually active, you should get tested once a year. Receptive anal sex puts you at a higher risk, but you can get it through vaginal sex, too.

If you’re a trans woman or a man who has sex with men, you should get tested once every 3 months.

Where Can I Get Tested?

You can get your free test at this location on the east side:

MedCheck East
7910 E Washington St.
317-355-3200

• Mon/Weds/Fri: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Tues/Thurs: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Every other Sat: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed 3/30/24)

What Happens When I Come In for a Test? 

Your test is always free. Whenever you need it, however often you need it, you’ll get answers without paying a penny.

We’ll prick your finger and take a little drop of blood, and you’ll get your results back in less than a minute.

Will You Keep My Info Private? 

100%. We’re not here to judge, we’re here to keep you safe. Anything you tell us is confidential, and it helps us make a plan that fits your life.

What Happens if My Test Comes Back Negative? 

It’s pretty simple from here. We’ll ask you some questions about your risk factors: How many partners you have, if you’re using dating apps, if you use needles, that sort of thing.

Once we know a little bit about your lifestyle, we can give you tips to reduce your risk so you can stay safe and healthy. We’ll send you home with some condoms, too.

We’ll also put a follow-up appointment on your calendar. We’ll see you in a few months or a year, depending on how often you should get tested.

What if My Test Comes Back Positive?

First off, don’t panic. A lot of what you know about HIV is probably inaccurate. Here are some quick facts about HIV:

• It isn't a death sentence. The average life expectancy for someone with HIV is 72 years, which isn’t that different from someone without HIV.
• It’s manageable. You’re going to go on treatment and stay on treatment.
• Undetectable = untransmittable. At some point your treatment will reduce HIV to undetectable levels. When that happens, you won’t transmit it to anyone anymore.
• You can still live a normal life. People with HIV can still have partners and have kids.

Here’s what happens when you test positive:

1. We'll move fast. We’ll put you in touch with a medical case manager, free of charge, no matter what your finances look like. You’ll have an appointment with your medical team within two weeks of your diagnosis.
2. We’ll make sure there’s no false positive. The finger test is accurate 99.6% of the time, but we’ll send your blood sample in for testing just to be 100% sure.
3. We’re always here. You’ll get the cell number of our outreach and testing specialist, who is available for you 24/7. Whenever you have a question, no matter what time of day it is, text or call.
4. We’ll test your partners, too. For free.
5. We’ll take care of your mental health. An HIV diagnosis is a lot to deal with on your own. We’ll get you support from a personal counselor at Community or refer you to support groups around town.
6. We’ll have your back. We’re your care team from here on out. We’ll be there for you every step of the way.

Your HIV test is always free and it’s always confidential. Get answers about your health and find your plan to fight HIV.

Give us a call at 317-355-3200 for testing at MedCheck East.