Have you been tested for HIV recently? Yes, you.
As we wrote in a recent blog, an estimated one in five people with HIV in the US are unaware of their infection. That “one” could be you or someone you know. So instead of wondering, find out your status today during National HIV Testing Day, now in its 16th year. The message is “take the test, take control.”
Use this online locator to find a screening facility near you, and if you’d like, you can research the various types of HIV tests available beforehand. Depending on the individual facility, you may be able to get rapid results in as short as 20 minutes using a method that involves taking a swab of saliva.
Are you afraid to find out the test results? You are not alone. There are benefits to knowing, however. If you test negative, you can be confident 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 2,961 HIV patients at PatientsLikeMe for information and support.
Thirty years after the discovery of AIDS, it’s now possible to live a long, productive life with HIV, thanks to advances in treatment. Take basketball legend Magic Johnson, who took the brave step of revealing his HIV+ status in 1991. As a successful businessman and NBA commentator now in his fifties, he is a poster child for thriving with HIV.
So be brave too – and get tested today.
