Spotlight: National HIV Testing Day (June 27, 2006) Spotlight: National HIV Testing Day (June 27, 2006)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC estimates that approximately 40,000 persons in the United States become infected with HIV each year. At the end of 2003, an estimated 1,039,000 to 1,185,000 persons in the United States were living with HIV and about one-fourth have not yet been diagnosed and are unaware of their infection.

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

Across the country, thousands of HIV counseling and testing sites, state and local health departments, and community-based HIV/AIDS service providers will participate in NHTD events, by holding health fairs, providing community and media outreach, hosting special testing-related events or operating extended hours. Some of these events may be scheduled in the days and weeks surrounding NHTD. A campaign kit for use by these groups has been developed by NAPWA and is available for order or download .

NHTD organizers will also reach out to communities at increased risk of HIV infection, including African American and Latino populations, both of which are disproportionately affected with HIV when compared to other demographic groups in the United States. The campaign also highlights the National HIV Testing Resources Web site, which allows users to locate HIV testing sites in their area.

National HIV Testing Day Resources:• Learn more about National HIV Testing Day and locate an HIV testing site near you from the National HIV Testing Resources Web site.
• Visit the Office of Minority Health – National HIV Testing Day Web site
• Learn more from the National Association of People with AIDS – National HIV Testing Day Web site
• Learn about rapid testing resources from CDC’s Rapid HIV Testing Resources site.