When is it recommended to get an HIV test?

It is recommended that everyone from age 13 to 64 receive an HIV test during routine medical checkups, notes AIDS.gov. People who engage in risky behavior, such as having unprotected sex or sharing needles to inject drugs, are advised to be tested at least once per year.

Additionally, couples or single women who want to have a child are advised to have an HIV test during the first trimester of pregnancy, according to AIDS.gov. Women who live in high-risk areas are advised to have an additional test during the third trimester of pregnancy. Certain medications decrease the risk of passing AIDs from mother to child.