National HIV Testing Day is June 27

Photo Credit: CDC

Consider these facts from HIV.gov:

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is observed each year on June 27 to highlight the importance of HIV testing. This year, we’re going beyond the test to emphasize the steps everyone can take once they know their HIV status. The NHTD theme for 2023 is “Take the Test & Take the Next Step.” This theme emphasizes that knowing your HIV status helps you choose options to stay healthy.

• Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S.a have HIV. About 13 percent of them don’t know it and need testing.
• HIV continues to have a disproportionate impact on certain populations, particularly racial and ethnic minorities and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
• In 2019, an estimated 34,800 new HIV infections occurred in the U.S.
• New HIV infections declined 8% from 37,800 in 2015 to 34,800 in 2019, after a period of general stability.
• In 2020, 30,635 people received an HIV diagnosis in the U.S. and 6 dependent areas—a 17% decrease from the prior year, likely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV prevention, testing, and care-related services.b
• HIV diagnoses are not evenly distributed across states and regions. The highest rates of new diagnoses continue to occur in the South.

Health Science libraries are encouraged to promote HIV testing and taking the next steps after your test to stay healthy as part of the plan to reduce the spread of HIV.  You can learn more about Ending the HIV Epidemic from HIV.gov.