Testing is free and anonymous and the rapid HIV test is available. The rapid test takes about an hour total to take the test and get the results. Specially trained staff and volunteers offer one-on-one counseling for individuals requesting an HIV test. Testing is offered at both our office locations as well as other locations.
Community Awareness Network (CAN) Office Hours:
507 Frenchmen St.
- Monday 1:00 - 3:00 pm
- Tuesday 4:30 - 7:30 pm
- Thursday 4:30 - 7:30 pm
- Saturday 1:00 - 3:00 PM
NO/AIDS Main Office
2601 Tulane Ave, 5th Floor
- Wednesday 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- Friday 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Outreach Venue Testing
- Bourbon Pub
1st Friday of every month
6:00 - 8:00 PM - Club New Orleans
2nd Thursday of every month
9:00 - 11:00 pm - Good Friends Bar
2nd Friday of every month
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Cafe Lafitte in Exile
3rd Monday of every month
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Oz
4th Friday of every month
6:00 - 8:00 pm
1-800 99AIDS9
1-800- 992-4379
They have a regularly updated list of testing locations throughout the state.
Free. Anonymous. Get results in an hour.
NO/AIDS is now offering the rapid test (known as Oraquick). This test works the same way that many other HIV tests work, by looking for antibodies to HIV. Just as with the standard test, a recent infection (less than three to six months) may not be picked up by this test.
There are several points about the rapid test that people should be aware of:
- It uses an swab to collect oral fluid.
- Individuals taking the test should be prepared to spend about an hour or so to complete the whole process. It takes about the usual 20 minutes to do the pre-test counseling, another 5 to 10 minutes to collect the specimen, about 20 minutes or so for the test to process and then the time it takes to get the result. Clients can come back and get their results at a later date, if they choose not to stay.
Any rapid positive result should be confirmed. The HIV counselor can give
the client the oral fluid test (Orasure) or can schedule them to get a blood
draw with the nurse.
The test uses oral mucusal fluid which is collected and mixed into a vial of developing solution. The test
device is inserted into the vial (similar to a pregnancy test). It takes at
least twenty minutes for the test to process.
A negative result is the same as the current test. Unless there is the chance
of a recent infection, the test is a considered negative. A positive result
is considered preliminary positive. The current standard test is considered
positive only after the screening test (ELISA or EIA) is run and then confirmed
with a confirmatory test (Western Blot). The new rapid test is only the screening
test and any preliminary positive result must be confirmed with either the
oral fluid test (Orasure) or a blood draw.
NO/AIDS began offering the test in 2003, as one of the first pilot sites in Louisiana. Because of the the complexity of the test, the test is only offered at certain approved locations. In addition to the usual component of counselors, rapid testing also requires a lab person to collect the specimen and process the test. The rapid test also requires much greater quality control, such as temperature monitoring of the storage area for both the testing kits and the controls and paperwork tracking lot numbers, test processing time, etc.
In addition, all counselors who perform the test must go through a special training and receive certification from the Office of Public Health HIV/AIDS Program.
Testing is on a first come, first served basis. We will try and see everyone who wants to be tested, but can't guarantee that we can see everyone. .
Confirmatory oral fluid testing (with a two week turn around time for results) is still
available during these times as well.
NO/AIDS Task Force also does testing at other special times and locations such
as at certain bars and or bathhouses. For more information call either the
Statewide AIDS Hotline at 821-2601 or the CAN Office at 945-4000.
Hours may be subject to change, it might be wise to call ahead around holidays (if you're new in town, remember we celebrate Mardi Gras) or during irascible acts of nature ... we might not be testing during hurricanes/floods or plagues of locusts. Termites, however, will not deter us.