National HIV Testing Day is Thursday

Information from the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners:

National HIV testing day is June 27, 2013.  This day marks an important step in the effort to increase awareness about the need to get tested for HIV.  There are currently over 1 million people in the United States who are living with HIV.  Of those people, an estimated 1 in 5, or 20%, do not know they are infected.  The 20% who are unaware of their infection are responsible for a majority of the new HIV infections that occur each year.   The goal of National HIV testing day is to educate the community about the importance of knowing their HIV status in the hopes of getting that 20% down to 0.

There are multiple behaviors that put people at risk of acquiring HIV.  If a person has more than one sexual partner and they are not using condoms to protect themselves, they should get tested at least every 3-6 months because of the risk of having sex with someone who is HIV-positive.  If a person is an injection drug user and shares needles/works without proper cleaning of needles/works, they too should get tested at least every 3-6 months because of the risk of sharing needles with a user who is infected with HIV.  Having multiple partners and sharing needles are just a few acts that put people at risk for acquiring HIV.  By getting tested and knowing your status, you have control over your health and are empowered to take appropriate action.                                                                                               

Montgomery County Health Department offers multiple tests to detect HIV at no cost to the individual.  The Oraquick rapid test offers results in as little as twenty minutes. The rapid test enables the patient to learn their status in a single visit and is 99% accurate.  The test uses oral fluid and offers the patient accurate results without the use of needles or blood.  The rapid test is available by appointment only at the Pottstown and Norristown locations.  The Norristown, Pottstown, and Willow Grove locations also offer traditional HIV testing during the communicable disease clinic hours.  The testing is done by clinicians who are also able to provide free testing for other sexually transmitted infections during the same visit.

By getting tested at the Montgomery County Health Department, constituents are able to get tested for free, to speak with a testing counselor confidentially about any questions or concerns they may have, and to get the answers they need to walk out confident about ways to reduce their risk of infection in the future.  Remember to “take the test and take control” on June 27, 2013.

For HIV testing, please stop in to MCHD during Communicable Disease Clinic Hours:http://www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?NID=1048  or make an appointment for an OraQuick Rapid HIV Test.

The MCHD Norristown clinic site is open Tuesdays from 9:00-11:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 1:00-3:30 p.m. 

The MCHD Pottstown clinic site is open Mondays from 1:30-3:30pm.

Residents can expect results in approximately 30 minutes. Call today to schedule an appointment at 610-278-5117 and ask to speak to someone about a Rapid HIV test.