If you’ve engaged in high‑risk behavior, get tested for HIV — the Chinese CDC offers free testing with full confidentiality

There is no charge. You simply visit the Chinese CDC or a designated medical facility and provide a blood sample. The only real hurdle is mustering the courage to get tested at all.

Article 23 of China’s "Regulations on the Prevention and Control of AIDS" states that the health departments of local people's governments at or above the county level shall designate certain medical and health institutions. These institutions "shall provide free counseling and preliminary screening testing for individuals who voluntarily accept HIV counseling and testing." The significance of early detection is not mere psychological comfort: current antiretroviral therapy can suppress the virus to undetectable levels. The World Health Organization's position is that "people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and have an undetectable viral load will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners." The PARTNER study tracked 782 same-sex couples, where in each pair, one partner was infected and the other was not, a condition scientifically known as serodiscordant. This totaled 1,593 couple-years (the sum of the years each pair was tracked). During this period, there were 76,088 instances of condomless sex, and 15 new infections were diagnosed during follow-up. After conducting phylogenetic analysis by comparing viral genes, it was found that none of these 15 cases originated from the partners, and transmission between partners was zero. Article 39 of the "Regulations on the Prevention and Control of AIDS" stipulates: "Without the consent of the individual or their guardian, no unit or individual shall disclose the name, address, workplace, portrait, medical history, or any other information that may lead to the inference of the specific identity of persons living with HIV, AIDS patients, and their families."

国务院 (2006). 艾滋病防治条例（第三、二十三、三十八、三十九条）. https://wjw.beijing.gov.cn/zwgk_20040/zcwj2022/flfg/202304/t20230408_2992986.html（北京市卫生健康委员会转载）；Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, et al. (2019). Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study. The Lancet, 393(10189), 2428-2438. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0；广东省疾病预防控制中心. 艾滋病检测窗口期科普. https://web.archive.org/web/20260915151957/https://cdcp.gd.gov.cn/jkjy/kpydjwjxz/content/post_3441820.html（窗口期那个数字；原页面已下线，链接为 2026-09-15 的网页存档）

The “window period” determines when a test becomes reliable. The Guangdong Provincial CDC reports that nucleic‑acid tests can detect HIV after roughly one week, fourth‑generation antigen‑antibody tests after about two weeks, and third‑generation antibody tests after three weeks. It is advisable to wait at least two weeks post‑exposure and then retest after another two to four weeks; after three months, 99.99% of people can be certain they are not infected. A positive home‑test result is not a diagnosis — confirmation must come from the Chinese CDC or a certified lab. Article 3 of the regulations guarantees that no one may discriminate against HIV‑positive individuals or their families; their rights to marriage, employment, medical care, and education are protected by law. Article 38 also requires infected persons to inform any sexual partners of their status. Screening for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B during pregnancy and related prevention measures are covered in Section 27.