Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic provides comprehensive HIV testing services and is also an approved Anonymous HIV Test (AHT) Clinic by the Ministry of Health Singapore. No ID or phone number is required for comprehensive HIV testing. Rapid HIV test options are available with results in as quick as 20 minutes.
At Tanjong Pagar Medical Clinic, you can have your HIV test done comprehensively and anonymously without having to provide your personal identifiable details. Below is the recommended timing and schedule for HIV testing and a list of HIV tests available at our clinic.
The anonymous HIV testing procedure is open to all patients in Singapore regardless of race or nationality.
Consultation charges for HIV testing are from $25. All prices are subject to prevailing GST.
| Time from Exposure | Recommended HIV Test | Time to results | Price | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 3 days or 72 hours | No testing is available at this stage.
You may wish to consider HIV PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) if you have had a high risk exposure, i.e. unprotected sex with a commercial sex worker or high risk contact, or needlestick injury from a IV drug abuser. | – | – | HIV PEP was shown to be more than 80% effective in reducing risk of HIV infection. In animal studies, it was shown that the earlier (less than 24 hrs) PEP is started, the more effective it is, with prevention rates reaching almost 100%. |
| 10 – 14 days | HIV RNA/DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test | 1 – 2 weeks | $600 | The HIV Viral PCR test looks for the presence of the actual HIV virus which will indicate positive infection by HIV.
It can be performed in combination with other HIV antigen and antibody tests for greater accuracy and confirmation. |
| 14 – 28 days (2 – 4 weeks) | HIV P24 Antigen/Antibody Combo Rapid Test (Fingerprick) | 20 min | $85 | Recommended by UK Guidelines in HIV Testing 2008 – conclusive at 28 days post exposure.
4th generation. Fingerprick blood test. Anonymous testing available. |
| 12 weeks | HIV-1/2 Antibody Rapid Test (Saliva/Fingerprick) | 20 min | $55 | Results for HIV Antibody tests are 90% accurate at 1 month post exposure and >99% accurate at 3 months post exposure.
3rd generation. Oral saliva and fingerprick blood. Anonymous testing available. |
An HIV infection causes the body to produce antibodies (an immunological response by the body to fight infection). These antibodies can be picked up by HIV tests to indicate the presence of HIV infection in the person.
There are two main ways in which this can be done:
HIV blood tests and HIV rapid tests diagnose infection through detecting the presence of antibodies against HIV in the human body. The type of HIV test depends on the window period.
The window period is the time between your exposure to the HIV infection and the detection of the infection if you have been infected. The window period for HIV can be up to 3 months in most cases, sometimes longer if the immune system is affected.
HIV tests performed within the window period (less than 3 months) may not be conclusive and a repeat test may be necessary and recommended by your doctor. You may take the HIV test earlier than 3 months; though in an event of a negative result, a repeat test is usually advised 3 months after exposure.
The diagnosis of HIV infection is made by the detection of circulating antibodies to HIV.
Antibodies are identified by the use of a HIV screening test, usually an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by definitive diagnosis using a Western Blot assay. HIV antibody is detectable in at least 95% of patients within 3 months after infection.
In some situations where measurement of HIV antibodies may be unreliable, diagnosis of infection may be through direct detection of HIV itself such as quantification of plasma HIV RNA, HIV viral DNA, or HIV antigen or by detection and amplification of virus in a tissue culture.
During your consultation, your doctor will advise you on the kind of HIV test that is most suitable, depending on your time from exposure and situation.
The ELISA or EIA test is the standard screening test for HIV infection. The presence of these antibodies is then detected by a second anti-human antibody, with a sensitivity of >99.5%.
A positive ELISA test is usually observed within 3-6 weeks following infection. The weeks between infection and seropositivity are termed the “window period” and are associated with high levels of circulating HIV, and potentially more efficient transmission.
False-positive test results are rare and the specificity of the ELISA is >99.8%.
The Western Blot is the definitive diagnostic test for HIV infection.
The Western Blot (WB) assay detects antibodies in patient sera that react with a number of different viral proteins. A positive WB is defined by the detection of antibodies to all of the 3 main groups of HIV proteins.
An indeterminate WB assay is most commonly caused by the presence of unrelated antibodies that are cross-reactive with HIV proteins. It is possible that an indeterminate result is due to early HIV infection and incomplete evolution of the anti-HIV immune response. An indeterminate test result should be repeated at 1, 2 and 3 months to exclude an evolving pattern.
Using both EIA and WB tests, the sensitivity and specificity exceed 99.9%.
Antibody testing can be performed on individuals approximately 1 month after a high-risk sexual exposure. If negative, the test should be repeated again 3 months (window period) after the exposure.
Rapid tests are screening tests where results are available in 20 minutes. If performed correctly, they detect HIV antibodies with sensitivities similar to currently available EIAs.
A negative rapid HIV test result requires no further confirmatory testing. A positive test requires confirmation by both EIA and WB testing.
Rapid HIV tests are approved by Health Science Authority Singapore and are available at our clinic:
The first marker to appear following infection is free viral p24 antigen. This can be detected using an EIA test.
Fourth generation HIV serology tests incorporate testing for both antibodies as well as for the p24 antigen, therefore reducing the window period further.
PCR for HIV DNA is available for very early HIV testing in high risk exposures and in special circumstances e.g. in cases where the WB test is indeterminate in a patient with high-risk behaviour.
Disclosure is required in Singapore for the following:
A person with HIV infection is encouraged to bring the partner or any other persons at risk of getting the infection, such as a mother bringing her baby, for HIV testing and screening.
A person who is HIV-positive is NOT REQUIRED to have his or her health status revealed to anyone else (including employers or relatives) under the current Singapore law governing communicable diseases. The identity of the person infected with HIV is protected and unauthorised disclosure of health information is prohibited, both to maintain privacy and to prevent undue emotional distress from exposure of identity.
Comprehensive STI & STD TestsOur STD/HIV clinic provides a full range of STI and STD testing services which can be done at the same time as the HIV testing. Please see here for a full list of STD testing and screening profiles. HIV and STD tests can be customized to suit your risk profile. We would also recommend testing for other common STDs or STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
We offer a full range of HIV testing services as well as rapid HIV tests, either by oral saliva swab or by fingerprick blood. Results can be ready in as little as 20 minutes.
If you have had a recent high risk exposure (less than 72 hours), you may wish to consider HIV PEP or HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis, which may help to prevent HIV transmission and potentially save your life!
We offer vaccination against Hepatitis virus and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Please call 64433101, SMS 96622880 or email info@tanjongpagarclinic.com for more information.
| STD | HIV | VACCINATION | GENERAL | STATUTORY | MEN’S HEALTH | WOMEN’S HEALTH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STD TESTING AND SCREENING | HIV TESTING AND SCREENING | HPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS) VACCINATION | ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISEASES | LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY (LPA) | HAIR LOSS ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA | MENSTRUAL REGULATION |
| STD EXPRESS TESTING | HIV PEP (POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) | HEPATITIS VACCINATION | HEALTH SCREENING | ADVANCED MEDICAL DIRECTIVE (AMD) | ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION | CONTRACEPTION REGULAR AND EMERGENCY |
| STD SELF TESTING | ANONYMOUS HIV TESTING | MPOX VACCINATION | SKIN AND ACNE | FOREIGN WORKER MEDICAL EXAM | PREMATURE EJACULATION | PAP SMEAR |
| STD TREATMENT | ADULT AND CHILD VACCINATION | WEIGHT LOSS AND MANAGEMENT | DRIVING LICENSE MEDICAL EXAM | ANDROPAUSE TESTOSTERONE DEFICIENCY | ||
| TELECONSULTATION |
