National HIV Testing Day

Because anyone can get HIV, CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested as a routine part of their medical care. CDC also recommends that pregnant women be tested early during each pregnancy. This will help eliminate the spread of HIV to infants.

Early HIV diagnosis is critical, so people who are infected can fully benefit from available live-saving treatments. Currently, almost 40 percent of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they have already developed AIDS that can be up to 10 years after they first became infected with HIV.

Finding out whether you are infected with HIV is the first step to improving your health and the health of your partners and your family. The week of June 27 there will be thousands of organizations offering HIV testing and hosting special NHTD events. Make plans to get tested and encourage others to get tested as well with an e-Card.

Cool Videos on HIV Testing

For National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), teams of students from six universities used a creative new medium—"personal" public service announcements or PPSAs—to encourage their peers and others to get an HIV test. CDC partnered with the University of Georgia’s New Media Institute to sponsor the development of PPSAs.

Watch these exciting new video PPSAs: 

Make it real 1.02MB
Spoken word 859KB
Tested positive 1.11MB
I know 879KB
Nervous 878KB
Not positive? 1.46MB
What am I afraid of (version #1) 914KB
What am I afraid of (version #2) 931KB

Download time may vary depending upon your connection speed. Thank you for your patience.

All about NHTD

Organized annually by the National Association of People with AIDS* (NAPWA), with support from CDC, this year marks the 16th Annual NHTD. The theme of campaign – "Take the Test. Take Control" – highlights the need for HIV testing.

NAPWA and other NHTD organizers reach out to communities at increased risk of HIV infection, especially African American and Latino populations. HIV exacts a devastating toll on African Americans, who account for almost half of new HIV diagnoses (49% in 2006) but only approximately 13% of the population in the 33 states with confidential name-based HIV reporting. Latinos are also hard hit, accounting for nearly 20% of new HIV diagnoses (18% in 2006) but only approximately 13% of population in those 33 states with confidential name-based HIV reporting.

Key Resources and Information

• Basic HIV Information
Learn about HIV/AIDS, how it is and is not transmitted, the risk factors for HIV transmission, preventing transmission and the symptoms of HIV infection.

• National HIV Testing Database
Find an HIV test site near you from the National HIV Testing Database, a CDC-sponsored service available 24 hours a day.

• CDC HIV/AIDS
CDC's Web site for HIV/AIDS in the United States.

• CDC HIV/AIDS Topic: Testing
Overview and resources on HIV testing from CDC, including rapid tests, testing in healthcare settings, and more.

• LGBT Health
Key information related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender health