11th Annual National HIV Testing Day Held Monday

The 11th annual National HIV Testing Day, which is aimed at increasing awareness of the disease, reducing stigma and encouraging people to be tested for HIV, is being held on Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (Dyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/25). The day, which is led by the National Association of People with AIDS, will include thousands of events organized by health departments and not-for-profit groups (National HIV Testing Day release, 6/27). In addition, hundreds of health centers nationwide will offer HIV tests at a low cost or free-of-charge (Young [1], South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 6/26). HIV testing and counseling sites nationwide also will extend their hours and participate in community and media campaigns promoting HIV awareness and testing (AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families release, 6/24). National HIV Testing Day is supported by CDC, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Black AIDS Institute, Cable Positive, YouthAIDS and NAPWA donors and members (National HIV Testing Day Web site, 6/27). An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are HIV-positive, but about 180,000 to 200,000 of them are not aware of their status, according to CDC, the New Bern Sun Journal reports (Goldstein, New Bern Sun Journal, 6/26). CDC also estimates that about 25% of people who get tested for HIV do not return to retrieve their results, which are usually ready in two weeks, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. As a result, health officials are urging people to use the new rapid HIV test, which produces results in about 20 minutes (Young [2], South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 6/26).