Monday is National HIV Testing Day

Monday is National HIV Testing Day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend testing at least once for anyone ages 13 to 64.

Every nine-and-a-half minutes, a person in the United States is infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. About a fifth of the 1.1 million Americans living with the virus, are unaware of they have it, including through heterosexual transmission, according to the CDC.

The test can be as simple as a cheek swab or a blood sample with a finger stick.  Ask your medical provider for the test or make an appointment at a free or low-cost clinic in north county. Most offer testing orally with a cheek swab, which can produce results in as little as 20 minutes.

The Health Trust lists testing sites that are either free or at low cost in the north county within a short drive for Los Altos and Los Altos Hills residents, including:

• Foothill Community College (Foothill College Students ONLY)
  12345 El Monte, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
  Mon-Fri (8:30 am – 1:00 pm) (2:00 pm - 4:30 pm)
  For more information, call 650.949.7243
• Planned Parenthood - Mountain View
  225 San Antonio Road, Mountain View, CA 94040
  Mon-Fri (9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
  For more information, call 650.948.0807
• Planned Parenthood - Sunnyvale
  604 East Evelyn, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
  Mon-Fri (9:00 am – 5:00 pm)
  For more information, call 408.739.5151
• Mayview Community Health Center – Palo Alto Community Clinic
  270 Grant Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
  HIV anonymous and confidential testing, STD testing $35 fee
  For more information, call 650.327.8717

On Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program will provide free, anonymous and confidential HIV testing in San Jose. Visit www.sccphd.org or call 408-792-3720.

Two San Jose locations will conduct free tests:

• The Crane Center, 976 Lenzen Avenue, Suite 1800, San Jose (at the southwest corner of the building) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• A mobile clinic at St. James Park, East St. John at Second Street, San Jose from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In Santa Clara County, 3,068 individuals have HIV or AIDS, according to the California Department of Public Health latest quarterly report.

While gay men are most at risk for HIV/AIDS, heterosexual couples are also susceptible.