June 27 is National HIV Testing Day and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is leading a statewide effort to help residents get tested.
Seventeen New Hampshire testing sites are offering a rapid-response oral HIV test. The screening requires only a saliva swab and produces results in 20 minutes. If the test comes back positive, then the next step is a blood test.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should be tested for HIV at least once. According to the DHHS, it’s estimated that 1 in 5 people living with HIV in the U.S. are not aware they have it.
The DHHS says the tests are free unless a site requires a small fee such as a co-pay. Planned Parenthood has confirmed that their tests will be free at their five testing sites.
Click here to see the list of testing sites.
