National HIV Testing Day is
June 27, 2012

National HIV Testing day occurs annually on June 27th of each year. The following materials will assist with the awareness and participation with community events, trainings or testing opportunities on behalf of National HIV Testing Day.

Download PDF version of this fact sheet formatted for print: National HIV Testing Day Fact Sheet (PDF: 26KB/1 page)

Calendar of Events

Download posters:

HIV Testing Day Poster 2012 (PDF: 146KB/1 page)

Take the Test - blue (PDF: 151KB/1 page)
Take the Test - yellow (PDF: 226KB/1 page)
Take the Test - faces/ribbon (PDF: 2MB/1 page)
Take the Test - faces (PDF: 407KB/1 page)

On this page:
Background
How Organizations can Participate
HIV/AIDS Facts for Minnesota and U.S.
For More Information

Background

National HIV Testing Day, held annually on June 27, began in 1995 to promote HIV testing and early diagnosis. The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) sponsors the observance. To maximize testing opportunities, many agencies schedule testing dates before, during or after National HIV Testing Day.

NAPWA was one of the first national organizations to advocate HIV testing for those at risk of infection. NAPWA realizes that lack of access to treatment and care along with social stigma can make living with HIV difficult. With early diagnosis, individuals can be placed in treatment and care resulting in better health outcomes. Persons in treatment had a 95% reduction in transmission rate compared to persons not on treatment.

How Organizations/Clinics Can Participate

Organizations and clinics may wish to provide or host activities that can help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and provide HIV testing opportunities within their communities.

Activities that community clinics and organizations may choose to provide or host is:

  • HIV testing allowed on a walk-in basis;
  • HIV testing clinics expand their testing hours for a day or week;
  • Rapid HIV testing opportunities arranged at community events;
  • Electronic communication through social media outlets and web pages about HIV  prevention, testing and treatment;
  • Articles/editorials/news releases in newspapers, newsletters, bulletins and online blogs about HIV testing;
  • Street and community outreach to provide referrals for HIV testing; and,
  • Public exhibits to distribute HIV testing education materials and provide incentives to get tested.

HIV/AIDS Facts For Minnesota and U.S.

CDC estimates: one million Americans are living with HIV and about 250,000 of this total are unaware of their HIV infection.

In Minnesota, cumulatively as of December 31, 2011:        

  • 9,785 HIV infections reported to MDH;
  • 3,347 have died; and,
  • 7,136 people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in Minnesota.

In Minnesota, 292 cases of HIV infection reported in 2011 – one new report every 30 hours:

  • About 1 in 3 new cases already had AIDS or nearly so at the time they were tested in 2011 (Late testers)
  • Since 2001, 54% of Latinos, 36% of African-born, 23% of African Americans and 28% of whites were “late testers”
  • Persons who test late will miss years of beneficial treatment and may have spread the disease to others

The MDH surveillance data is available online.

For More Information and Resources

National Association of People With AIDS
8401 Colesville Road, Suite 505
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Work phone: (240) 247-0880; (866) 846-9366
Fax phone: (240) 247-0574
E-mail: info@napwa.org
Web site: www.napwa.org

Content Notice: This site contains HIV or STD prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV and other STDs are spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please exit this web site.

Updated Thursday, 29-Nov-2012 14:31:26 CST