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Ontario care pathway

If your HIV self-test result is negative

If you live in Ontario and your test results are negative, call SHILO (Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario) 1-800-668-2437 or visit their website for linkage to prevention services such as PrEP, PEP or harm reduction. You can also contact them for information on sexual health, additional testing for other sexually transmitted infections, or for help with finding local primary healthcare providers or community-based organizations.

Regarding PrEP and sexual health:

  • Your primary care provider can refer you for PrEP.
  • You can also visit OntarioPrEP.ca to locate a prescriber.
  • You may be able to access the PrEPstart program for three months of free PrEP and help organizing drug coverage.
  • You can also contact SHILO (Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario) through their website or at 1-800-668-2437.
  • The Allan Clinic is an online PrEP clinic with a full-time, dedicated Nurse Practitioner. The Allan Clinic services all Ontario residents online (in-person appointments are available to those living in the Greater Toronto Area). Optional pharmacy and reimbursement support services are offered through a partner pharmacy (Pharmacy.ca) or patients can use the pharmacy of their choice.
  • The Ontario Prevention Clinic/The PrEP Clinic is a combined clinic and pharmacy. They offer online or in-person appointments to start or continue PrEP from anywhere in the province. Their services are accessible seven days a week until midnight through phone, text, or email. PrEP affordability support is available through their PrEPSaver program. Visit their website or contact them by phone at 416-420-1250 or by email.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a way to help prevent HIV from being transmitted to an HIV-negative person who may have been exposed to the virus. You must start PEP within 72 hours of being exposed. This is different from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which you start taking before and continue taking after being exposed to HIV. If you think you need PEP, go to your nearest emergency department or a sexual health clinic right away. Other ways to access PEP in Ontario are that you can:

If your HIV self-test result is positive

You can call SHILO (Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario) at 1-800-668-2437 or visit their website for connections to HIV confirmatory testing, treatment and care and harm reduction. You can also call them for information on sexual health, additional testing for other sexually transmitted infections, or for help with finding local primary health care providers or community-based organizations/ASOs.

You can also schedule an appointment with your primary care provider for confirmatory testing and to discuss next steps.

About HIV confirmatory testing

You should see a healthcare provider as soon as possible to tell them that your result was positive so you can get the information and support you need to take care of your health. The self-test you took is a highly accurate screening test, however all HIV self-test positive results need to be confirmed by a lab test that your healthcare provider can order to give you a formal HIV diagnosis.

While there is no cure for HIV, HIV is treatable. People with HIV on treatment can live long, healthy lives. The medications used to treat HIV are called antiretrovirals. They prevent the virus from replicating and slow the disease’s progress. Starting antiretroviral therapy early can lower the virus in you to an undetectable level so that you can stay healthy, and so that you can’t transmit the virus to others. 

You can request HIV confirmatory testing from your primary care provider, or you can contact SHILO (Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario) at 1-800-668-2437 or visit their website.

About HIV treatment and care

  • You can call SHILO (Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario) at 1-800-668-2437 or visit their website.
  • You can also schedule an appointment with your primary care provider to discuss treatment and care options.

If your HIV self-test result is invalid

If the HIV self-test results are invalid (i.e. no visible control dot), this means that the test did not work. If this happens, you should:

  • Repeat the self-test with a new test kit and pay close attention to the instructions for use to ensure that the test procedure is conducted correctly.
  • You can call SHILO (Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario) at 1-800-668-2437 or visit their website.
  • to find out about other HIV testing options such as laboratory-based or point-of-care testing.
  • You can also visit HIV411.ca to find HIV testing locations near you.

Sexual health and other STI services in Ontario

  • For general STBBI information or to search for a local sexual health clinic, connect with Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario.
  • For more information for either HIV negative or positive testers on HIV or Hepatitis C (HCV) from a national organization see CATIE’s website, which contains many resources.
  • To find a local AIDS Service Organization (ASO) visit HIV411.ca or call SHILO at 1-800-668-2437 for contact information for ASOs.

Harm reduction and mental health services in Ontario

For information on harm reduction and mental health services in Ontario, visit online or call the following services: