June 27th is National HIV Testing Day

National HIV Testing Day --- June 27, 2007

Initiated in 1995 by the National Association of People with AIDS and supported by CDC, National HIV Testing Day is held each year on June 27. This event increases awareness of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and promotes early diagnosis and testing for HIV.

In 2003, CDC announced a plan to explore new strategies to combat HIV (1). Since then, CDC researchers have studied the feasibility and effectiveness of HIV testing in diverse settings, including emergency departments and minority gay pride events, two settings featured in this issue of MMWR. In 2006, CDC called for routine, voluntary HIV testing of persons aged 13--64 years in health-care settings (2). In 2007, CDC launched a heightened national response to the HIV/AIDS crisis among African Americans, with a goal to increase opportunities for diagnosis and testing (3).

Persons who know they are infected with HIV can begin treatment at an early stage of infection and take steps to prevent transmitting HIV to others (4). Additional information regarding HIV testing, including a list of testing sites, is available at http://www.hivtest.org.