Free Finger-Stick Tests
No Blood Draw Required
Results in 15 Minutes
Multiple Locations Available
Testing at Our Lives Indy
Instant HIV Testing
1 in 8 people living with HIV don’t know they have it.
Early diagnosis is crucial for treating HIV. We offer free testing to all in the Indianapolis community and believe it should be part of everyone’s annual preventative care. Please note: people at higher risk should be tested more frequently.
Rapid Hepatitis C Testing
Hep C can lead to long-term liver damage if left untreated
Early detection is key. Treatment cures more than 95% of patients with Hepatitis C (Hep C), usually without side effects, but leaving it untreated can cause long-term liver damage or worse. Most people are asymptomatic and don’t know they have it until it’s too late. Prioritize your health by getting tested regularly!
Common Questions
General Testing Questions
Yes, testing for HIV and Hepatitis C is completely free! We offer additional STI testing to clinic patients. This testing may be covered by insurance or available for a low, out-of-pocket cost.
No, we offer rapid, finger-stick tests.
Our Lives Indy offers STI, full panel blood, and pregnancy testing to those who become clinic patients.
No, we offer HIV and Hepatitis C testing to all community members regardless of whether or not they are patients at Our Lives Indy. But, we do encourage you to become a patient of Raphael Health Center, so we can continue providing regular health screenings and the services you need to take care of yourself.
Community Testing Events
Our Lives Indy’s community testing events are completely free. All walk-ins are welcome! Check out our recurring events below or head to our Facebook page to find more community events near you.
Other Types of Testing
Our Lives Indy offers additional STI, full panel blood, and pregnancy testing to Raphael Health Center patients who have established care with us.
Mondays
Indianapolis Public Library Central Branch
40 E St Clair St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
10:00am - 12:00pm
Wednesdays
Garfield Park
2345 Pagoda Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46203
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Christian Park
4125 English Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46201
1:00pm - 4:00pm
FRIDAYS
Horizon House
1033 E Washington St Central, Indianapolis, IN 46202
8:00am - 10:30am
Working Together
Help stop the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in Indy.
If your organization is interested in hosting a community testing event, please contact HIV/PrEP Program Coordinator Gigi Walls at 317-497-3969.
Hepatitis C Testing Questions
Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hep C mainly affects the liver and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health issues including cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
The amount of times you should get tested for Hep C is influenced by demographic factors and behaviors. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends everyone over 18 years of age test for Hepatitis C at least once. Those who inject drugs or have tested positive for HIV should test more regularly. If you can become pregnant, you should also test during each pregnancy. If you have tested positive for Hep C in the past, you will continue to test positive even if the virus clears, so rapid testing is no longer advised. You should continue to get viral load testing to check for reinfection.
Hepatitis C spreads through blood-to-blood contact. This can happen through sharing or using unclean needles, childbirth, and sexual contact. It can also spread through sharing toothbrushes or razors. Reinfection is possible, which is why testing and using safe injection and sex practices are important.
Seeking treatment after a positive test is essential to cure the infection and ensure it doesn’t become chronic. At Our Lives Indy, we can assist you in getting the care you need. The first-line treatment is a type of medication called Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs), which target specific stages of the hepatitis C virus’s life cycle. Treatments with DAAs typically last between 8 to 12 weeks and are followed up with blood tests and lifestyle recommendations to monitor the condition and maintain liver health.
Left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious health problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. As many people are asymptomatic, testing is the only way to know if you have the virus.
HIV Testing Questions
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system, making it much harder to fight infections. Without treatment, HIV can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which further weakens the immune system and leads to other infections, including cancers. Getting tested for HIV, taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and using condoms during sex can help you prevent infection.
We recommend making HIV testing a part of your annual preventative care. Those at higher risk should get tested more often. The CDC recommends the following testing frequency:
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Women: Annually, as well as at any STI Screening.
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Pregnant Women: At first prenatal visit and delivery. Test again in the third trimester if high risk.
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MSW (Men Who Have Sex With Women): Annually.
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MSM (Men Who Have Sex With Men): At least annually. MSM at high risk for acquiring HIV infection should consider more frequent screening (e.g. every 3-6 months).
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Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons: Consider screening at least annually based on reported sexual behaviors and exposure. Those at high risk for acquiring HIV infection may consider more frequent screening (e.g. every 3-6 months).
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Persons Taking PrEP:
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All patients taking oral PrEP should have an HIV test done at initiation and every three months.
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For injectable cabotegravir, HIV testing should be performed at initiation and every following visit (every two months).
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For more information, please see the CDC’s Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
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We recommend you get tested at least once a year as part of your preventative care. Those who are at higher risk should test more frequently. An HIV/PrEP Program Coordinator at Our Lives Indy can help you determine how often to get tested.
HIV is spread through unprotected vaginal or anal sex. It is less likely to transmit the virus via oral sex, but still possible, especially if you or your partner have cuts or sores in the mouth. Additionally, the virus spreads through sharing needles, blood transfusions, childbirth and breastfeeding, and open wounds.
Talk to your doctor as soon as possible about a treatment plan. Living a vibrant life with HIV is possible, and you can take action to prevent it from progressing into AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the first-line treatment for HIV. It lowers the body’s viral load to undetectable levels, reducing the risk of transmission.