This may include persons whose sexual or drug use history is not known to you. If you have answered yes to any of these questions, you should seriously consider AIDS counseling and testing. The National AIDS Hotline can give you the name and address of places in your area where you can get counseling and testing. If you decide to have AIDS counseling and testing, you should know that most testing centers take measures to maintain your privacy. Some centers provide confidential testing this means they know who you are, but keep the information secret from everyone except medical personnel or, in some states, the State Health Department.
Some states allow anonymous testing.
This means that no one knows your name and that your test results are linked only to an identification number provided to you. You should also know that at some testing centers, doctor's offices or clinics, your test results may become part of your medical record. If this happens, your results may be seen by health care workers, your insurance company or your employer. You should find out what level of confidentiality or anonymity is available to you prior to getting AIDS counseling or testing. Some comprehensive counseling and testing centers provide additional services which may include medical treatment and monitoring for persons who are infected with HIV, and treatment for drug addiction.