Time: 2024-06-28
In support of National HIV Testing Day on Thursday, the Northern Virginia Regional STI/HIV Task Force is hosting free HIV testing events across the DMV region. Officials announced that about 11 testing events will be held on June 27 in various locations including Alexandria, Fairfax, Ashburn, and Reston. The testing is free, confidential, and fast, with no identification or insurance information required.
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, emphasizing the importance of HIV testing and knowing one's HIV status. This year's theme, "Level up your self-love: check your status," encourages individuals to get tested to show self-value, respect, and compassion by taking charge of health and wellness. HIV testing is crucial for accessing services like PrEP for prevention and treatment for those living with HIV. Testing programs have contributed to a 12% decrease in estimated HIV infections from 2018 to 2022.
To address challenges in HIV testing access, the CDC funded Emory University and partners to launch a program distributing free HIV self-tests directly to consumers by mail. The program, called Exit Disclaimer, prioritized specific audiences disproportionately affected by HIV. From March 14, 2023, to March 13, 2024, the program distributed 443,813 tests to 219,360 people, with 68% from priority audiences. These data suggest that distributing HIV self-tests by mail could reach large numbers of people who have never been tested before.
In addition to health care provider visits, individuals can find free or low-cost HIV testing options near them at gettested.cdc.gov. The CDC's Lets Stop HIV Together campaign aims to empower communities, partners, and health care providers to reduce HIV stigma and promote testing, prevention, and treatment. Social media content using the #HIVTestingDay hashtag can help spread the word about testing opportunities. Together, efforts to increase access to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services can help end the HIV epidemic.
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