In observance of National HIV Testing Day today, Lane County Public Health will be offering free HIV tests through June 30 for people in certain high-risk groups.
“We have recognized the event for the past couple of years by providing free testing services,” Lane County HIV Prevention Specialist Marc Miller said. “It seems to have increased the numbers of people who have gotten tested substantially.”
National HIV Testing Day was coordinated be the National Association of People with AIDS to educate the public about HIV and encourage counseling and testing for people at risk for infection. The campaign began in 1995 to respond to increasing numbers of HIV infections.
“We really support the county in doing this,” Valerie Haynes, a registered nurse at the HIV Alliance, said. “We enjoy and appreciate working with them and we applaud their efforts.”
On an typical day Lane County Public Health administers anywhere from four to seven HIV tests. Last year during one day of free testing they administered 18 tests.
“We are going to try to provide as many tests as possible,” Miller said. “We certainly won’t turn people away, but we are trying to maximize testing among high risk individuals.”
People who are considered at high risk, according to Miller, are individuals who share needles for injecting drugs, have unprotected sex, have unprotected sex with a man who has had unprotected sex with another man or have had unprotected sex with anyone who has engaged in the above activities.
Testing will be done on a first come first serve basis, and clients will be required to return in person two weeks later to receive their results.
The testing process also includes pre- and post-test counseling where a counselor will discuss with the client their risk factors, education about HIV, what the test looks for, risk reduction plans and future safety issues.
“Counselors will also discuss options for a retest,” Miller said. “If the client has been exposed to a high risk factor in the past month and a half to three months it might be too early for the test to detect the virus. If this is the case we encourage them to retest.”
While Lane County Public Health is the only agency recognizing the event by giving free tests, other agencies also offer HIV testing and outreach programs.
“We have a free, anonymous walk-in program every Tuesday at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. where people can get tested,” Dr. Mike Winstein from White Bird Clinic said. “It is usually fairly full, although we don’t know statistical data on how many more people are coming in because of National HIV Testing Day as opposed to other days.”
Planned Parenthood also offers HIV testing, typically on an appointment basis. Tests are offered both anonymously and confidentially and can be preformed from blood samples or from an oral swab sample.
“We typically have between 25-50 people a month come in for HIV tests,” Marilyn Helton, director of Planned Parenthood, said.
People who are not at an increased risk but still want to be tested during the seaside week can call Planned Parenthood at 344-9411 or White Bird Clinic at 484-4800.