“CDC estimates that 55 percent of adults – and 28 percent of adults with a risk factor for HIV – have not been tested. Too many people living with HIV are being tested and diagnosed too late to take advantage of effective HIV treatment and prevention options.” - Dr. Kevin A. Fenton, Director, CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention
Today is National HIV Testing Day, now in its 17th year. Given that 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV and one in five is unaware of his or her infection, the goal of this annual event is to promote regular testing and early diagnosis.
If you haven’t gotten tested recently, here are three quick ways to locate a testing center near you:
- Use the online HIV/AIDS Prevention & Service Providers Locator.
- Visit HIVtest.org to find locations and learn about different tests.
- Send a text message with your zip code to KNOWIT (566948).
Scared to take the test? It’s perfectly understandable. But there are good reasons to do it. If you test negative, you can be certain of your status. If you test positive, you can begin receiving specialized care and treatment to help you stay healthy. You can also look to the 3,000+ patients in PatientsLikeMe’s HIV community for information and support.
More than 30 years after the discovery of AIDS, things are very different. Thanks to advances in treatment, you can live a long, productive life with HIV, just like basketball legend Magic Johnson, who is now 20 years post-diagnosis and recently narrated an ESPN documentary about his experience entitled “&feature=player_embedded">The Announcement.”
So don’t put it off – get tested today.