National HIV Testing Day: June 27, 2006

An estimated 250,000 people in the United States are HIV/AIDS positive and don’t even know it.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is pleased to support National HIV Testing Day on June 27. National HIV Testing Day is critical to the fight against HIV/AIDS because it presents an opportunity for people nationwide to learn their HIV status, and to gain the knowledge they need to take control of their health and their lives. National HIV Testing Day also provides an invaluable opportunity to dispel the myths and stigma associated with HIV testing, and to reach those who have never been tested or who have engaged in high-risk behavior since their last test. Too many Americans with HIV are diagnosed late in the course of their infection, when they may not be able to fully benefit from life-prolonging treatments HIV testing can reduce new infections when HIV-positive persons become aware of their status and take the necessary precautions to stop spreading the disease