Free HIV testing coming next week

As many as 16,000 people in Los Angeles County have HIV and don’t know it, according to estimates of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP).

And since early detection is key to ensuring early and potentially more effective treatment, health officials are urging everyone to improve their understanding of HIV, assess their risk and get tested during the third annual HIV Testing Days, June 26-30.

In partnership with local medical clinics, HIV Testing Days is a countywide effort led by the L.A. County Department of Health Services offering free, confidential HIV testing, counseling and treatment services to those at risk of the life-threatening virus.

"HIV Testing Days provides a special opportunity for people to monitor their health and learn how to protect themselves from HIV and STD infection," said Charles L. Henry, director of OAPP.

The L.A. County Department of Health Services hopes to rekindle awareness of the dangers of unprotected sex and to increase awareness that sexually-transmitted diseases such as syphilis increase the risk for HIV infection. More than 50 percent of the syphilis cases identified during a recent outbreak were also found to be HIV positive.

"It appears that people are less concerned with becoming infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, because they are lulled into complacency, knowing treatment advances are helping people with AIDS live longer," Henry said. "However, the threat of contracting HIV and spreading it to others remains a vital concern to the community. It’s important for people to understand that HIV is still here and what’s more, there is still no cure."

For more information about HIV Testing Days or to find the locations of testing sites, please call (800) 367-2437.