The Marion County Public Health Department will join nine other community organizations to sponsor HIV Testing Day on June 27.
“We are proud to be part of this national event. Encouraging those who do not know their HIV status to be tested is an important message for our community. Indianapolis has many tremendous resources and many of them are participating in HIV Testing Day,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director, Marion County Public Health Department.
Free HIV testing will be available at locations throughout the city from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on June 27. Many locations will also provide free syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C testing on request. There will be bilingual information and bilingual speakers at several locations.
Those interested in finding a testing location can call (317) 221-TEST (221-8378) on June 27 to learn more about each participating site.
There are more than 4,000 individuals living in Marion County with HIV. More than 1,000 additional Marion County residents likely have the infection and do not know it.
HIV impacts every age group and racial ethnic group, including:
• Persons aged 25-44 accounted for the largest proportion (63.8 percent) of diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases
• Persons aged 15-24 accounted for the second largest proportion (14.3 percent)
• 35 people were diagnosed before the age of 15
• 96 people were diagnosed after the age of 55
• Whites constituted the majority (47.6 percent) of people living with HIV/AIDS
• Blacks constituted the second largest proportion (42.7 percent), followed by Hispanics (6.3 percent)
• Infection rates were particularly high for minorities; Blacks had twice the rate of infection compared to whites
• One in every 298 whites living in Marion County is infected with HIV/AIDS, as is one in every 132 Blacks, and one in every 260 Hispanics
“Based on these factors, the health department wants everyone to know their HIV status. At sites conducting rapid HIV tests, the results will be available within 30 minutes. At the sites not using HIV rapid testing and testing for other STD’S, results will be available once lab testing has been completed. The HIV tests that are being done will have results within 30 minutes – if there is a positive then a confirmatory is done, which will take longer,” said Dr. Caine.
If there is a positive HIV, after the confirmatory test has been done, the client will be referred to the health department’s care coordination services.
In the event that an STD positive is confirmed, the client will be referred to the Bell Flower Clinic for treatment.
Along with being tested, the Marion County Public Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention join in sharing other actions individuals can take. These include practicing safer methods to prevent HIV, deciding not to engage in high risk behaviors, talking about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues. Other actions include providing support to people living with HIV/AIDS and becoming involved with or supporting HIV Testing Day.
Local HIV Testing Day partners include the Marion County Public Health Department, Clarian Health, Damien Center, Step Up, Indiana State Department of Health, Brothers United, Community Health Network House, Women in Motion, Inc. and Casa Mateo.
