AS I walked into Southampton’s Adelaide Health Centre for an HIV test, I was confident I knew what the result would be.

But there was that element of doubt that made me think how powerful the stigma must be for some even 30 years after the virus first hit the headlines in this country.

I could not have been more reassured by the clinicians I encountered through the whole 15-minute process, who made me feel at ease straight away and described what would happen and what support I would receive should the worst-case scenario come about.

Indeed, with the right treatment and support, the virus is not a death sentence and that is a message that needs to go far and wide.

The test itself involved pricking my finger, then drawing a small amount of blood which is then combined with two medical solutions in a small dish – revealing either one blue dot for negative or two for HIV.

Everything is kept confidential and the test itself is virtually painless, with the results almost instantly in front of you.

Had the worst happened I felt comfortable I was with the right people to manage the situation and take it forward with the best care possible.