National HIV Testing Day is a day where we can all encourage people to get tested for HIV!
Getting tested is the first step to help prevent the spread of HIV. Once you know your status, you can seek treatment, lower the amount of virus that is in your body (known as a Viral Load) and reduce the chances of spreading HIV. If you are HIV negative, we want to make sure that you stay HIV negative by using condoms if you are sexually active and continuing to get tested every 6 months.
In our National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day post, we learned that 1,000 youth are newly infected with HIV every month but did you also know that almost 60% of youth with HIV in the United States do not know they are infected with HIV (CDC)?
How do you know if you have HIV? Can you tell by looking at someone? Well, they only way to know if you have HIV is to tested for it. You cannot tell by looking at someone either so you have to encourage your partner to get tested as well
If you are looking for a testing location check out this link here and the video below shows you how to use it: http://locator.aids.gov/
The HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator – AIDS.gov
The HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator is a first-of-its-kind, location-based search tool that allows you to search for testing services, housing providers, health centers and other service providers near your current location. Learn more at AIDS.gov/locator/