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What is Testing Week?

It's your chance to get tested if you haven't done so in a while :)

From November 18 to 24, exaequo offers you daily opportunities to get tested for free in Brussels and Wallonia. 

All HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C tests offered by exaequo for gay and bisexual men, transgender and non-binary people ‧are free, anonymous and with immediate results. They allow you to clarify for status for ‧all sexual activities that took place more than 3 months ago. A rapid test can also see a more recent infection (one or two months), but as it can also miss it, the result is only guaranteed for relationships over 3 months old.  

If you've already had syphilis in the past, we won't be able to perform the syphilis test. 

Please note that a rapid HIV test does not replace a PrEP follow-up. If you've been having sex without PrEP and without condoms, and you've recently contracted HIV and continued to take PrEP, the rapid test may not detect this new infection.  On the other hand, a positive result is always a sign of contamination. If you are taking PrEP, we advise you to follow up with your referral center or general practitioner. 

If you had high-risk sex (penetration without a condom and without PrEP) less than 3 days ago, you can go to an HIV referral center for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). If taken in time, as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after risky sex, this emergency treatment can still protect you from HIV infection. Call us for more information (02 736 28 61) or consult this page.

When and where can I get tested?

At exaequo in Brussels and Charleroi : from Monday 18/11 to 24/11.
In Mons: 26 and 27/11.

> Click here to book your appointment now!

Address in Brussels: Rue des Grands Carmes, 20 (smaller door) - 1st floor, buzz at "MACS". Directions here. ‧There is no elevator, if you need special care, please let us know.

Adress Mons: MAC Mons, boulevard J. F. Kennedy, 7, 7000 Mons

Why isn't exaequo Testing Week intended for all?

The community dimension is very important at exaequo, we try to create a safe space for gay and bisexual men, transgender and non-binary people. The majority of our activists are gay and bisexual men themselves. We also train to welcome non-binary, intersex people, transgender women, agender, genderqueer and gender fluid people, and if you recognize yourself in these terms, you're welcome to exaequo. 

HIV still disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men in Belgium, and it remains important for us to focus our efforts within our community. If you don't define yourself as such but think you may have been exposed to HIV, you can contact us to discuss the risks and the possibility of testing with us or with other services.

In addition to the activities organised during Testing Week, there are also other possibilities to get tested:

blood/urine/swabs STI tests with exaequo medical team

Gay-friendly Healthcare Professionals

The mia center (free, anonymous screening) 

Planned Parenthood Centres (in French only) 

Order an HIV self-testing kit to do it on your own at home  

Need more general information about testing? Click here!

Not a gay/bisexual man? The following centers may have an approach that could be of interest to you: 

Screening for lesbian, bisexual and queer women (Whatsapp +32 472 86 07 47 marine.detillesse@telsquels.be)

Take a rapid HIV test at a family planning center

Make an appointment with the Genres Pluriels trans and inter-belgian psycho-medical-social network

The Plateforme prévention sida screening service for people of foreign origin

The Epicentre inclusive health center

The GoToGynéco! network of lesbo-friendly healthcare professionals

Alias screening service for male sex workers and transgender people

What's the difference between a rapid test and a blood test ?

We say that the rapid test is "unmedicalized", which means that our activists are trained in screening but are not doctors or nurses. 

The rapid test gives an immediate result for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C, and is mainly used for contaminations over 3 months old (6 weeks for a laboratory blood test). 

Blood tests with doctors are often supplemented by urine sampling and smears (throat and anus). Since November, urine sampling and smears are no longer recommended for routine screening. 

You can find further information on this subject on the following page. 

To summarize : 

• Rapid test : 
  • STI tested: HIV, syphilis and hepatitis C
    
    
  • Window period: 3 months
    
    
  • Result waiting time: less than 5 minutes

• Laboratory screening : 
  • STI tested: HIV, syphilis, hepatitis A and B (if you're not already vaccinated), hepatitis C.
    If you have symptoms, notification from a partner and/or have relations with people with uterus: gonorrhea and chlamydia. 
    
    
  • Window period: 6 weeks for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis, 2 weeks for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
    
    
  • Result waiting time: 2 to 7 days