National HIV Testing Day is June 27: Pass it On

National HIV Testing Day is Saturday, June 27, an annual campaign established by The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) in 1995.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). According to the Centers for Disease Control, about one quarter of people living with HIV/AIDS do not know that they are infected, putting themselves and others at serious risk.

Who should be tested?

* Pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant

* People who have had sex with partners whose history of sex partners and/or drug use is unknown

* People who have had many sexual partners

* If you or your partner have engaged in intravenous drug use

How is an HIV screening test done?

* Blood draw (the most common test)

* Oral Fluid Tests

* Urine Tests

* Rapid Tests, using blood or oral fluid bring results in 20 minutes

* Home Testing Kits. These involve obtaining a blood sample at home and mailing it to a licensed laboratory. A customer ID number is used to get the results by phone.

All tests require follow up confirmatory tests before diagnosis can be made.

Why get tested?

* Because studies show that early treatment for HIV may significantly increase life expectancy.

* Knowledge is the key to practicing preventative measures in order to avoid spreading HIV.

* If you’re HIV negative, you’ll breathe a lot easier.

If you’ve been considering getting an HIV test, but have been putting if off, now is the time take action. Knowledge is power… pass it on.

For more information, or to locate an HIV testing site near you, visit National HIV and STD Testing Resources, a Service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

List of FDA-approved HIV Tests: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

National Association of People with AIDS

Read more: aids, cdc, health policy, hiv, national hiv testing day

Photo: National HIV and STD Testing Resources

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

John D.

8:22AM PDT on Jun 25, 2011

the reason that person is alive after 15 years on these aids drugs is simple. in the beginning they were giveing AZT a very toxic drug that was killing people at a fast rate and when the crooked doc/s saw that some were refuseing to take it and were liveing longer than those that were on it they started to use other less toxic drugs less the public would catch on to this scam. and then they would make no money at all and glenna j you mentioned africa those that watched these things saw that for some strange reason only the poor in africa got aids could it be that it was because they are the ones that are forced to drink dirty water and eat bad food i am glad susan mentioned the book truth about HIV i must read it. i read the great aids hoax by TC FRY and it was truthfull i believe but then again i am a person that is objective i want to see for myself i am proactive with my health and what i eat i am distrustfull of big pharma and the AMA as any one with half a brain can see they are crooks

send a green star

Carol H.

7:15AM PDT on Jun 24, 2009

All these people who persist on having several partners without pertection should all be tested.

Glenna J.

7:12AM PDT on Jun 24, 2009

(Cont.) So, while I applaud being as healthy and eating as healthy as you can just saying that this will solve everything - is pretty dangerous.
Just saying that nutrition will solve the problem & cure everything sets up a dangerous precedent. It is akin to the Christian Scientists belief that you need no medicine at all (just diet & exercise) or the belief by some other religions that no medicine should be given, that you should just pray and trust in GOD to heal your body.
Diptheria and tetanus were almost wiped out in America; but then people started mistrusting the vaccines & now it is coming back. Polio was wiped out - will it be making a similar comeback? What about all the diseases?
As I said, I can see a correlation between proper nutrition and a healthy immune system - but there are some diseases out there that will attack healthy & non-healthy individuals alike.

7:04AM PDT on Jun 24, 2009

Susan, I am assuming that you believe that AIDS can be cured by natural health and making sure that you eat healthy; and also that it is not caused by HIV. So, you think that AIDS is just an excuse to get people to take large quanitites of toxic chemicals.
The truth is, that when AIDS first came about large numbers of people were dying and that now, with the advances made in medicine that AIDS does not have to be a death sentence - people with this disease are living longer. While I do not doubt the role that nutrition can play in this; to simply say that there is no HIV is to just deny that there is a problem.
The analysis of the book mentioned Africa. Try telling the numerous children who are living with the effects of this disease every day - because their parents are dying - that there is no such thing as HIV. Try telling those children who are now living with this disease because their mother had it that there is no such thing as HIV. When Dr. Ransom & Mr. Day can go to Africa and live among these people and provide food and nutrition and cure thousands of Africans from AIDS - then I might believe them.
I have a really good friend who died from AIDS when he was 25 years old - because it is an auto-immune disorder, it does leave the body unable to fight disease. There is also a man I know here who has been living with full blown AIDS for at least 15 years now - he takes the chemical "cocktail" - he is alive and living well.

Susan H.

3:36AM PDT on Jun 24, 2009

Take the test and LOSE control. This is typical propaganda from big pharma. Take the test if you wish but please read the book by Steven Ransom and Phillip Day called "The Truth About HIV" trust me you will be shocked at the findings.
There is a VERY large reward for the 1st person to prove the existence of HIV and it is unclaimed!!!!!