You may soon be able to get an AIDS test as easily as a blood pressure check at your nearest Walgreens drugstore.
The CDC announced a $1.2 million program which will offer free rapid HIV test at pharmacies and in-store clinics in 24 cities and rural communities. The tests are already available in seven stores and clinics, with 17 more locations to be determined.
Dr. Kevin Fenton, who oversees the agency’s HIV prevention programs, said in a statement:
“We believe we can reach more people by making testing more accessible and reduce the stigma associated with HIV.”
The swab test takes just 20 minutes for results, which the CDC says are correct 99 percent of the time. Customers with positive test results will be referred to a local health department or other health care provider for a lab blood test to confirm the results, in addition to counseling and treatments. Privacy and sensitivity from employees is also expected.
According to the CDC, less than half of adults under 65 have been tested for HIV, which is a scary fact considering as many as 20 percent of the estimated 1.1 million Americans infected with HIV don’t know they have it. The CDC recommends all Americans ages 13 to 64 get tested at least once.
It might be scary, but an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. The sooner you know, the sooner you can begin treating – and stop spreading – HIV.
For more information, or to locate a participating Walgreens, click here.