Everyone aged 13 to 64 should be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and more often if certain risk factors are present — generally at least once a year, and every 3 to 6 months for some sexually active gay and bisexual men. Test during every pregnancy. On oral PrEP, testing happens at least every 3 months; on injectable cabotegravir, every 2 months.
The baseline: at least once for everyone 13 to 64
CDC's recommendation is simple and universal: everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should get tested for HIV at least once, and people with certain risk factors should get tested more often[1]. For clinicians, CDC frames the same thing as routine care — test all patients aged 13 to 64 at least once, and screen patients with ongoing risk factors at least annually[2].
CDC advises an opt-out approach, meaning HIV testing is included in routine bloodwork unless you decline. CDC's stated reason is that opt-out testing removes the stigma associated with HIV testing[2]. If you are over 64 and have ongoing risk factors, HIV.gov notes your provider may still recommend testing — the upper bound of the screening band is not a cutoff for care[3].
Two points worth hearing without alarm. HIV.gov notes that about 1 in 8 people in the United States who have HIV do not know it, and that some people who test positive were not aware of any risk. Even in a monogamous relationship, HIV.gov suggests finding out for sure whether you or your partner has HIV[3]. Testing is information, not a verdict.
At least once a year — and every 3 to 6 months for some
CDC recommends testing at least once a year if any of the following apply to you: you are a man who has had sex with another man; you have had anal or vaginal sex with someone who has HIV; you have had more than one sex partner since your last HIV test; you have shared needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment such as cookers; you have exchanged sex for drugs or money; you have been diagnosed with or treated for another sexually transmitted infection, hepatitis, or tuberculosis; or you have had sex with someone to whom any of those apply, or whose sexual history you don't know[1].
CDC adds that sexually active gay or bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing — every 3 to 6 months[1]. Clinically, CDC frames re-testing as continuing for as long as risk factors are ongoing, rather than as a one-time decision[2].
Note what these lists are not: they aren't a description of who you are. Consumer guidance from the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion states the trigger plainly as behavior — there are certain behaviors that can raise your risk of HIV — and then lists the same annual triggers, adding that men who have sex with men may need testing more often than once a year, like every 3 to 6 months[4].
If you've had a possible exposure, the clock matters more than the calendar. HIV.gov notes that PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) may prevent HIV after a possible exposure if it is started as soon as possible and within 3 days, alongside an antigen test that detects HIV sooner than standard antibody testing[3].
Every pregnancy
CDC's guidance is unambiguous: pregnant people should get tested for HIV during each pregnancy, and testing pregnant people and treating those who have HIV is a highly effective way to prevent babies being born with HIV[1].
HIV.gov places HIV testing inside standard proactive prenatal care, alongside blood tests for syphilis and hepatitis B, so that treatment can begin promptly if a person tests positive[3]. ODPHP's consumer guidance says the same in one line: all pregnant women also need to get tested[4]. This is not a judgment about anyone's life — it is the single step that makes a baby born without HIV the overwhelmingly likely outcome.
On PrEP: every 3 months, or every 2 months
PrEP comes with its own testing rhythm, because PrEP is only prescribed to people who do not have HIV. On daily oral PrEP, CDC's clinical guidance calls for repeating HIV antigen/antibody and HIV-1 RNA testing and assessing for signs or symptoms of acute HIV at least every 3 months. Prescriptions or refill authorizations are written for no more than 90 days — that is, until the next HIV test[5].
On injectable cabotegravir PrEP, testing happens at the month-1 visit and then at least every 2 months beginning in month 3, at each injection visit[5].
Other PrEP monitoring runs alongside: kidney function every 6 months for people aged 50 and older or with an eCrCl below 90 mL/min at initiation, and every 12 months for everyone; plus syphilis and gonorrhea screening at least every 6 months for all PrEP users[5]. If the 3-month cadence feels like a lot, it helps to see it as what it is: a standing appointment where several things get checked at once.
Why you'll see 13–64 and 15–65 — and what testing costs
You may notice two different age bands in official guidance, and both are real. CDC recommends testing at least once for everyone aged 13 to 64[1], while ODPHP's MyHealthfinder — reflecting the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation — states that everyone ages 15 to 65 needs to get tested for HIV at least once[4]. The practical takeaway isn't to pick a side: if you're 13, 14, or over 65 and want a test, CDC's lower bound and HIV.gov's note about testing after 64 both support you getting one[3].
On cost and access: HIV testing is available at doctor's offices, hospitals, clinics, community testing sites, and health departments, and as a self-test from pharmacies or online. Free HIV testing is available at some testing centers and health clinics. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover HIV testing for everyone ages 15 to 65 and for others at increased risk, plus HIV counseling for women — depending on the plan, this may be at no cost to you. Medicare may also cover HIV screening[4].
If you prefer to test at home, HIV.gov notes that a rapid self-test can produce results within 20 minutes, and that there are two FDA-approved rapid self-tests — one using oral fluid and one using fingerstick blood[3].
Florida: prenatal testing is required, and PrEP labs are free
Florida law mandates prenatal HIV testing. Under section 384.31, Florida Statutes, and rule 64D-3.042, Florida Administrative Code, all pregnant people must be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections at the initial prenatal care visit, again at 28 to 32 weeks, and at labor and delivery if HIV status is unknown[6]. The rule adds detail: testing at the initial prenatal exam covers chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis; a person with documented HIV need not be retested during that pregnancy; and anyone presenting at delivery or within 30 days postpartum with no record of prenatal care, no record of testing, or no testing after the 27th week must be tested for HBsAg, HIV, and syphilis before discharge[7].
Florida also funds outreach so testing actually reaches people. TOPWA — the Targeted Outreach for Pregnant Women Act program, created in 1999 — operates in eight counties (Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and St. Lucie) and provides prenatal care, help with HIV testing, family planning, ADAP or Medicaid enrollment, and HIV prevention education[7]. All 67 county health departments provide PrEP services, and Florida's PrEP drug assistance program provides medication and PrEP labs at no cost to the client — which matters here, because PrEP includes quarterly HIV testing[6].
Related questions
How often should I get tested for HIV?
CDC recommends at least one test for everyone aged 13 to 64. Test at least once a year if you have ongoing risk factors, and every 3 to 6 months if you are a sexually active gay or bisexual man who may benefit from more frequent testing. Test during every pregnancy.
How often do I test if I'm on PrEP?
On daily oral PrEP, HIV testing happens at least every 3 months, and prescriptions are written for no more than 90 days so testing stays current. On injectable cabotegravir PrEP, testing happens at the month-1 visit and then at least every 2 months from month 3 onward, at each injection visit.
Why do some sources say ages 15 to 65 instead of 13 to 64?
Both bands are official. CDC recommends testing at least once for everyone aged 13 to 64, while ODPHP's MyHealthfinder — reflecting the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force — uses 15 to 65, which is also the band the Affordable Care Act coverage requirement follows. If you fall outside either range and want a test, you can still ask for one.
Do I have to pay for an HIV test?
Often not. Free HIV testing is available at some testing centers and health clinics, and under the Affordable Care Act insurance plans must cover HIV testing for everyone ages 15 to 65 and for others at increased risk — depending on the plan, at no cost. Medicare may also cover HIV screening.
Related from RiseUpToHIV
References & Sources
- CDC — Getting Tested for HIV. The 13–64 baseline, annual testing triggers, the 3-to-6-month interval, and testing in every pregnancy. Updated February 11, 2025. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- CDC HIV Nexus — Clinical Testing Guidance for HIV. Clinician-facing framing: routine testing, opt-out screening to reduce stigma, and re-testing while risk factors are ongoing. ↩ ↩ ↩
- HIV.gov — Who Should Get Tested?. Testing after age 64, the 1-in-8 unaware figure, PEP within 3 days, prenatal testing, and FDA-approved rapid self-tests. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- ODPHP MyHealthfinder — Get Tested for HIV. The 15–65 band reflecting USPSTF, behavior-based testing triggers, and ACA and Medicare coverage of HIV testing. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- CDC HIV Nexus — Clinical Guidance for PrEP. Every-3-month testing on oral PrEP, every-2-month testing on injectable cabotegravir, and kidney and STI monitoring intervals. ↩ ↩ ↩
- Florida Department of Health — Epidemiology of HIV in Florida, 2023. Florida's mandatory prenatal testing law and the statewide availability of PrEP services and no-cost PrEP labs. ↩ ↩
- Florida Department of Health — Perinatal HIV Prevention. Rule 64D-3.042 testing detail, delivery and postpartum testing requirements, and the TOPWA program and its eight counties. ↩ ↩
Community publications like POZ, Positively Aware, and TheBody inform framing and lived-experience context on RiseUpToHIV. Every clinical, epidemiological, or public-health claim above is anchored to a primary source.