Lead The Way

they will make you feel less uncomfortable and more educated. really great people!

One of the advantages of living in San Diego is UCSD research. This is one of the new center to get the Early Test, which can detect HIV infection as early as one week after exposure. While tradition HIV testing like the Rapid Test detects HIV by detecting antibodies, the Early Test detects infection by detecting the virus.
One can get both tests performed and both are FREE. Results of the standard Rapid Test will be given within 15 minutes while the Early Test results will take two weeks. The doctor will provide a personalized ID number along with a date to check for the results online (
) or by phone.
For HIV testing at this site, I find it best to make an appointment. Find parking on the street; there’s usually plenty within a three block radius on Park Blvd. Lead The Way is hard to miss, it’s literally across from the Crypt (
).
Lead The Way is very different from the two other places I’ve been to get tested before (
). When they say they’re trying to banish the sigma of HIV testing, they mean it.
It’s an intensely relax atmosphere. The décor is modern and definitely sets the mood they’re going for. There’s one computer station to surf the internet while waiting. I got in right away with my appointment and the whole thing took 30 minutes.
After explaining the consent forms and procedure, they pricked my finger for the rapid test. The results are faster than the mouth swap by 10 – 20 minutes. During the 10 – 15 minutes waiting time for the results, the worker asked me further questions about my sexual practices and explained things if I needed it. It wasn’t my first time at the rodeo, so I didn’t really need much explanation. Then, I got my rapid results and was taken into a room to get my blood drawn for the Early Test.
Done and done.
PS
Note that there are limits to every test and know what the results are telling you. While the Early Test detects recent infection well, the Rapid Test detects a wider time frame. It’s important to pick the appropriate test for your possible exposure time frame. I like to do both for the overlap.

First off let me say that I noticed that the first review of this campaign/​research study is one that seems completely ridiculous. I don’t know who this person is, but if you are offended by people trying to make HIV testing less intimidating to those who are scared or nervous to get tested and then use the test results for research then you must be a pretty crappy human being. Get a life.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, I went to the their headquarters/​testing center on Park and University today. They were friendly, fast and the whole process wasn’t intimidating at all (not that I am scared to get tested, but there is always some anxiety involved even if you feel like you’re at low risk for infection, in the back of your head there is always «what if?»).
They started by talking to me, and not even about my sexual activity, just about what they were doing and if I was interested. Ofcourse I’m interested I get free testing and I get the chance for my results to help with HIV research. Winning in my book.
I then filled out a short survey about my fears (if any) of getting tested, and they pricked my finger to administer the Rapid Test. While waiting for the results of that they took a couple of viles of blood for the Early Test.
By the time I they’d taken the 2 viles of my blood my Rapid Test results were done and they told me to check into the Early Test website in 2 weeks for my results of that test. That was it! Easy as pie.
Walked out with a smile on my face, a blue band aid on my finger and a blue wrap around my arm.
I think this is a GREAT way to spread awareness while gathering helpful research information and to let people know HIV testing is NOT something people should be intimidated by. Anyone who hates on a program like this clearly has issues. I am proud to participate in Lead the Way and I think it’s something everyone should do, not just so they are sure of their status but to show other people they know that there is nothing to be afraid or ashamed of when it comes to getting tested for HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease for that matter.
Rock on Lead the Way!