I decided to go to a private clinic to do my HIV test.

The first clinic I called was in Damansara Utama. The test costs RM40. I was told that they would send my blood sample to a lab, and I’ll get the results within two to three days.

But the nurse stressed to me that, “Tapi you kena consult dengan doctor dulu. Mesti ada consultation” (But you should consult a doctor first, there must be consultation). I think this is quite a good thing, especially after the results are in.

But then, she pried, “Ini berkenaan dengan apa ya?” (What’s this about anyway?). I felt she had no right to ask me why I wanted to do a HIV test, and decided that I’d rather go elsewhere for my test.

So, I called a diagnostic centre. The person who answered my call was nice.

She told me the HIV test costs RM25. It takes less than five minutes to do the blood test, and I’d get the results in three days as well.

I asked her, “Kena buat appointment tak?” She answered, “Tak payah, walk in je.” (No need, just walk in).

So, I went there and doing the test was easy and unintrusive.

I signed a consent and confidentiality letter. I was happy they provided me with those. Everything was done professionally, and the nurse was especially nice.

The sight of blood was quite disturbing, and I felt a bit faint after that, but that was just me being a wuss.

She told me I could come pick my results out in three days time, or choose for them to send it through e-mail or fax.

I think diagnostic centres are great, but they don’t offer any counselling services. (R.AGE has given Ashvina a list of places where she can go for counselling) If my results did turn up positive, I would have started flipping out and getting totally depressed. Well, now that the testing is over, I’m quite anxious to know my results. The three-day wait is actually horrendous, and not very fun at all.

But I have just realised how very very important it is for someone to know their HIV status. I have a friend who sleeps around a lot and he doesn’t know his status. I never gave a thought of it before, but now think that is super important. He’s putting a lot of girls in the world at risk by not taking the responsibility to find out his status. I now vow to always egage in safer sex, and I’m going to convince all my friends to go for the HIV test.

I’m actually really really thankful I participated in this experiment. I now realise that knowledge has the power to save lives.