HAVING my first AIDS test at the AIDS Foundation centre in Shau Kei Wan was simple, anonymous, and almost pleasant.
The AIDS hotline was quite busy, but a friendly male voice answered, and asked me to hold on. ''Please don't hang up,'' he begged.
When a volunteer was at last available to talk, I felt I had his full attention. He first asked what made me think I might have contracted the disease, and then explained carefully that this was a test for HIV antibodies.
He said it took about three months for the antibodies to form in the bloodstream, so the results of any high-risk behaviour in the past few months would probably not show up in the test.
He also explained that the sample would be sent to Queen Mary Hospital, so would take between seven and 10 days. I would have to collect the result from the centre.
Tests take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and take between 15 and 20 minutes. I was told there was a place for me the following night; I would not have to wait if I turned up on time.