Approximately 1 in 5 people who are living with HIV in Canada don’t know their HIV status. Most people with HIV do not show symptoms for several years after infection. This means that they may not know that they have been infected. Even if no symptoms are present, the virus can still be passed to other people.

Knowing you are HIV negative is just as important as knowing you are HIV positive. The only way to know for sure is to have a test.

Routine testing for HIV helps you:

  • Access services and care earlier

  • Live longer, healthier lives with early treatment

  • Become actively involved in care

  • Decrease worry about possible infection

  • Prevent the spread of HIV to others

  • Avoid discrimination

Types of HIV Testing, Treatment, and Support

  • Visit the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health’s website for more information on:

    • Who Should Get Tested
    • HIV Testing
    • Find HIV Testing Locations
    • HIV Treatment
    • HIV-AIDS Support and Counselling Services
  • Point of Care Testing
    A point of care test is a rapid screening test for HIV using a small amount of blood from a finger poke.
  • HIV Self-Testing
    An HIV self-test kit is a self-administered rapid screening HIV test that uses a small amount of blood from a finger poke for results in as little as 1 minute. HIV self-test kits are a safe, reliable, and convenient way for individuals to test themselves at a time and location that is convenient for them, including at home. Kits include all the necessary instructions for use.

    Currently, the provincial government has made HIV self-test kits available, free of charge, at select public health clinics, pharmacies, and community based organizations across the province. A list of HIV testing locations can be found, here.

    HIV self-test kits can also be purchased directly from the manufacturer (BioLytical Laboratories Inc.) and delivered to an individual’s home, if needed. For more information on purchasing HIV self-test kits, please visit: www.insti.com/hiv-self-test/.

    HIV Self-Testing Resources:

  • Sexual Health Clinics and Services
    Visit the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health’s website for more information on getting access to accurate information, guidance, and timely medical care if you are living with HIV. Sexual health clinics have the expertise, resources, and experience to provide targeted services, counselling, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), ensuring that individuals receive comprehensive care in a safe, confidential, and supportive environment. A list of sexual health clinics and services can be found here.

    For more information, contact your local public health office, your physician or nurse practitioner, or HealthLine by calling 811.

Saskatchewan HIV Testing Policy