We recommend that HIV testing will be conducted in the following cases: pregnancy, people suffering of sexually transmitted diseases, viral infections of the liver, unexplained weight loss and other medical conditions. 

Only 0.1% of the population in Israel is infected with HIV. While HIV testing is easily done and inexpensive, currently there is no a global recommendation in Israel to screen (test) the entire population. 

No, individuals from all sectors and at any age, may be infected with HIV. 

Your doctor either did not identify a reason to test you for HIV, or did not think of this possibility during your medical appointment. In some cases, physicians may refer their patients to this website and consider testing. 

The test is free and can be performed in all the Israeli HMOs (kupot holim) by a referral from your family doctor or in every AIDS center in different hospitals in Israel - Rambam(Haifa), Hillel Yaffe (Hadera), Meir (Kfar Saba), Tel Hashomer, Ichilov (Tel Aviv), Kaplan (Rehovot), Soroka (Beer Sheva) and, Hadassah Ein Kerem (Jerusalem). In Hadassah Ein Kerem – tests are being conducted every Monday at 8:30-10:30 on the 6th floor of the ambulatory center for infectious diseases. No referral is needed but an ID card is required. Additionally, tests are being performed in the Jerusalem City Center located in the “Open House”, Hanagid St 1, 1st floor. Tests are conducted every Sunday between 17:00-20:00. In Tel Aviv, tests are being conducted in the Israeli HIV task force – Hanativ 18, 1st floor, every day except Mondays and Saturdays.  

It takes at least 3 weeks from the time of HIV exposure for the routine test to be positive. 

It depends on where the test was performed. At Hadassah, test results are available on the Wednesday following the test and, in urgent cases, on the same day. 

After exposure, HIV can be prevented by medications that are available in emergency rooms in Israel. The treatment is effective only if started within 72 hours of exposure, the sooner the better. If you have been potentially exposed, please go to the nearest Emergency room at your earliest convenience.