Adolescents and adults who decide to take the HIV test, whether voluntarily or under coercion, should seek clinics that perform the test with confidentiality and that provide intensive and thorough counseling services. One dilemma that can be posed by confidentiality is that of informing other persons who may be at risk of HIV infection. Pretest counseling includes education about the test, the nature of HIV disease, future risk reduction, and treatment options; it is a required part of the testing process. The elements of post-test counseling depend on whether the client tests seronegative or seropositive. Special issues in testing and counseling relate to cultural factors and to differences between the experiences of adults and adolescents.