View source for Voluntary counseling and testing

'''Voluntary Counselling and Testing''' ('''VCT''') for [[HIV]] usually involves two counseling sessions: one prior to taking the test known as "pre-test counseling" and one following the HIV test when the results are given,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Suthar |first1=Amitabh B. |last2=Ford |first2=Nathan |last3=Bachanas |first3=Pamela J. |last4=Wong |first4=Vincent J. |last5=Rajan |first5=Jay S. |last6=Saltzman |first6=Alex K. |last7=Ajose |first7=Olawale |last8=Fakoya |first8=Ade O. |last9=Granich |first9=Reuben M. |last10=Negussie |first10=Eyerusalem K. |last11=Baggaley |first11=Rachel C. |title=Towards Universal Voluntary HIV Testing and Counselling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community-Based Approaches |journal=PLOS Medicine |date=13 August 2013 |volume=10 |issue=8 |pages=e1001496 |doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.1001496 |pmid=23966838 |pmc=3742447 |language=en |issn=1549-1676|doi-access=free }}</ref> often referred to as "post-test counseling". Counseling focuses on the infection (HIV), the disease ([[AIDS]]), the test, and positive behavior change.  VCT has become popular in many parts of [[Africa]] as a way for a person to learn their HIV status.  VCT centers and counselors often use rapid HIV tests that require a drop of [[blood]] or some [[cell (biology)|cell]]s from the inside of one's cheek; the tests are cheap, require minimal training, and provide accurate results in about 15 minutes.{{cn|date=April 2021}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060824055435/http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/vct/en/index.html World Health Organization, HIV Department Testing and Counseling page]
*[http://www.unaids.org/en/Policies/Testing/default.asp UNAIDS Policy Position: HIV Testing and Counseling]
*[http://www.engenderhealth.org/aids/engenderhealth-aids/response.html EngenderHealth's Response to HIV/AIDS] 
*[http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001496 Towards Universal Voluntary HIV Testing and Counselling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community-Based Approache]
[[Category:HIV/AIDS]]
[[Category:Counseling]]


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