June 27th marks National HIV Testing Day, an annual event that emphasizes the importance of HIV testing and early diagnosis. Knowing your HIV status is crucial for maintaining a healthy life and preventing the transmission of the virus. With approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. living with HIV and nearly 40% of new infections transmitted by those unaware of their status, it's essential to get tested and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others. In the following section, we will explore 10 key facts about HIV testing, including recent news, breakthroughs, and global statistics, to help raise awareness and encourage testing on this significant day.
10 Key Facts About HIV Testing
- Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. have HIV, and about 158,500 people are unaware of their status.
- Nearly 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted by people who don't know they have the virus[1].
- Early diagnosis of HIV is crucial for maintaining a healthy life and preventing HIV transmission.
- CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care[1].
- HIV self-test are simple tests that can be taken in the privacy of your own home.
- HIV tests can be performed on blood, oral fluid, or urine.
- Rapid tests and the only FDA-approved [2].
- There are three types of HIV tests: antibody tests, antigen/antibody tests, and nucleic acid tests (NAT) [2].
- National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) was first observed on June 27, 1995. The annual event encourages people to regularly test for HIV, know their status, and seek care and treatment[3].
- A 53-year-old man in Germany, known as "the Dusseldorf patient," has been confirmed as the fifth person cured of HIV[4]. Additionally, new research conducted by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has shed light on the mechanisms behind the cure of HIV in at least five primates[5].
Strategies for HIV Prevention
Strategies such as abstinence, never sharing needles, and using condoms every time you have sex can help prevent HIV transmission. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are also available as HIV prevention medicines[6].
Global Statistics on HIV
In 2021, there were approximately 38.4 million people worldwide with HIV. An estimated 1.5 million individuals worldwide acquired HIV in 2021, marking a 32% decline in new HIV infections since 2010[7].
Get Tested and Know Your Status
For people with certain risk factors, CDC recommends getting tested at least once a year[1]. The 2023 theme for NHTD is "Take the Test & Take the Next Step," focusing on testing for HIV, knowing your status, and knowing the options for staying healthy[3]. National HIV Testing Day is an important reminder to get tested, know your status, and take the necessary steps to maintain your health.
Spreading Awareness and Encouraging Testing
By spreading awareness and encouraging testing, we can help reduce the number of new HIV infections and improve the lives of those living with HIV.
Citations:
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/index.html[2] https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/test-types.html[3] https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/hiv-testing-day[4] https://abcnews.go.com/Health/5th-person-confirmed-cured-hiv/story?id=97323361[5] https://www.hivplusmag.com/cure/hiv-cure-latest-clues-from-primates[6] https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/prevention.html[7] https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/global-statistics
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