June 27: National HIV Testing Day

Each year on June 27, Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) observes National HIV Testing Day, by uniting with health departments and community organizations to continue the conversation around HIV and the importance of knowing one’s status.

According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) most recent HIV Surveillance Quarterly Report between January 1 and June 30, 2017 there were 219 new HIV diagnoses across Colorado.

Among the newly reported diagnoses, the age group with the highest rate of transmission was for people between 20-29 years old. Male-to-male sexual contact was the most common category for HIV transmission.

As of June 30, 2017, there were 13,947 people living with HIV in Colorado.

Getting tested for HIV is quick, confidential, and free at BCAP. BCAP’s test counselors are non-judgmental, well-informed, and compassionate. A testing session can last between 30-60 minutes. During the session, there will be questions about sexual health, mental health, and substance use, as well as a brief Hepatitis C (HCV) screening.

This is to aid the test counselor and client in creating a personalized plan to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV and HCV. Anonymous HIV testing is also available at BCAP, meaning a unique identifying code is created to maintain a person’s anonymity; no contact information like name or address is collected.

For National HIV Testing Day, BCAP will be available for walk-in testing on June 27 from 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. People also can make an appointment or get more information about HIV testing at atlas.bcap.org or by calling 303-444-6121.