HIV Testing
Take your sexual health into your own hands
SERVICE UPDATE*
The HIV Testing Service is currently on hiatus, but we're working hard to get the program back up and running. For more information or any questions, please email info@maxottawa.ca
In the meantime, if you need help accessing HIV testing, please email navigation@maxottawa.ca and we will connect you to other options.
Anonymous HIV testing at MAX Ottawa
If you need help testing, this service is for you: knowing your status should be simple and stress-free. That’s why MAX, in partnership with the Somerset West Community Health Centre (SWCHC), offers a new weekly HIV testing service out of our office (400 Cooper Street, Suite 9004). When you arrive at our office, a volunteer or staff member will be there to greet you. During your appointment, you’ll have an HIV rapid test administered on-site and receive your results within several minutes.
We're open for testing every Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Just a heads-up: we’ll be closed for testing on the last Tuesday of each month.
Need more comprehensive STI testing?
We partner with GetAKit, where you can order full-service STI self-testing. You’ll need to register and create an account, if it’s your first time using the service, but after that, just log in to order more testing or to see your results. You will need an OHIP card to set up your account, You can find more information here at GetAKit’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Program Information
Anonymous testing means your name is never linked to your test results. You’ll be identified only by a code, so your privacy is protected.
Through GetAKit, you can get testing for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and hepatitis C.
You can pick up self-swab kits at MAX to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea - learn more here.
The test is a simple finger prick. Results are ready in just a few minutes during your appointment.
If your rapid test result is reactive, staff will provide support and connect you with further testing to verify the results. They'll also help connect you with follow-up care through Somerset West Community Health Centre or another provider you trust.