Knowing whether you have HIV

HIV test

HIV often has no clear symptoms at first. You do not notice that you have HIV. Get tested: that is the only way to know for sure.

Doctor taking a blood sample from a woman.

Symptoms

At first, you may get symptoms similar to the flu:

At a later stage, if you do not take medicines, HIV weakens your immune system. Your body cannot defend itself against infections any more.

It is not possible to know if someone has HIV by looking at him/her.

Talking to a health professional

Woman talking with a doctor.

Weten of u hiv heeft

Hiv-test

Hiv geeft in het begin vaak geen duidelijke symptomen. U merkt vaak niet dat u hiv heeft. Laat u testen: dat is de enige manier om het zeker te weten.

Dokter neemt een bloedstaal van een vrouw.

Symptomen

In het begin kunt u symptomen hebben die op griep lijken: 

In een latere fase, als u uw medicijnen niet neemt, zal hiv uw afweersysteem verzwakken. Uw lichaam kan zich niet meer tegen infecties verdedigen.

U kunt niet weten of iemand hiv heeft door naar hem/haar te kijken.

Praten met een zorgverlener

Vrouw praat met een dokter.

More information or help needed?

Sensoa Positief
Information, activities and support for people with HIV and their environment. You can remain anonymous.
078 15 11 00 (13 h-16 h)
Family doctor
You can talk to a family doctor about almost every intimate issue. If necessary the family doctor can refer you to a specialised health professional. Find a family doctor in your neighbourhood:
Community health centre (wijkgezondheidscentrum)
You can visit a family doctor in a community health centre. Other care professionals such as nurses and social workers also work at community health centres. Care is provided free of charge. Find a community health centre in your neighbourhood:
CAW - Centrum Algemeen Welzijn
Centre for general well-being - Help with all kinds of issues: a difficult relationship, medical, financial, administrative, legal or material problems, family problems,... CAWs also provide assistance to victims of violence and abuse. Find a CAW in your neighbourhood:
AZ Sint-Jan
HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV
050 45 23 20, 050 45 23 12
CETIM - UMC Saint-Pierre - ARC
ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
02 535 31 77
CHU Charleroi - ARC
ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
071 92 22 58, 071 92 23 07
CHU de Liège - ARC
ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
04 366 77 86
Elisa Centrum - UMC Saint-Pierre
Anonymous and free HIV and STI testing
02 535 30 03
Hôpital Erasme - ARC
ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
02 555 31 11
Helpcenter ITG
Help with HIV and sexual health issues. Free and anonymous STI and HIV testing.
03 216 02 88
HIV-SAM project
Counselling to people from Sub-Sahara Africa living with HIV and HIV and STI prevention towards the African community
03 247 07 18
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde - ARC
Institute of Tropical Medicine - ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - STI and HIV testing and medical and psyhosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
03 247 64 65
Jan Yperman Ziekenhuis
HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV
057 35 71 80
Jessa Ziekenhuis
HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV
011 30 94 85
Plate-Forme Prévention Sida
Support to people living with HIV and their environment
02 733 72 99
Centre S (Sida Sol)
HIV and STI testing
04 287 67 00
UCL Namur
HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV
081 42 20 81
UZA
Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen (Antwerp University Hospital) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV
03 821 51 53
UZ Brussel - ARC
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (Brussels University Hospital) - ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
02 477 60 01
UZ Gent - ARC
Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent (Ghent University Hospital) - ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
09 332 23 50
UZ Leuven - ARC
Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (Leuven University Hospital) - ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
016 34 44 88
Saint-Luc UCL - ARC
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc (Saint-Luc University Hospital) - ARC (AIDS Reference Centre) - HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help for people with HIV and their environment
02 764 19 02
Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg
HIV testing and medical and psychosocial help with HIV
089 32 55 32
S.A.S.E.R.
Service de Santé Affective Sexuelle et de Réduction des Risques (Sexual Health Service and Risk Reduction) - Anonymous and free STI and HIV testing
081 77 68 20
SIDA-I.S.T. Charleroi-Mons
AIDS-STI Charleroi-Mons - Free and anonymous STI and HIV testing
071 92 54 10
Ex aequo
For men who have sex with men in Brussels and Wallonia. Help with questions and problems concerning HIV and sexual health and free HIV and STI tests. You need to make an appointment for tests.
02 736 28 61