An estimated 1.2 million people are living with HIV in the United States. Of those, as many as 1 in 5 people (about 240,000) don’t know they have HIV.
CDC recommends that all Americans between the ages of 13-64 be tested for HIV at least once as part of regular medical care.
Others at greater risk (those with more than one sex partner, who inject drugs or are a men who has sex with other men) should get tested once a year or more often.
HIV testing early can lead to timely care and treatment that can improve the health of a person with HIV and prevent giving the virus to others. Without HIV testing, people who have HIV and don’t know it won’t be able to get care and treatment. They also will be at greater risk for serious health problems and early death with HIV, and can give the virus to others without knowing it.
HIV testing is a critical step in the prevention of HIV, but just as important is what happens after the test.
HIV medical care and prevention counseling can improve health, increase survival and prevent the spread of HIV.
Most people with HIV receiving care are given medicine (antiretroviral therapy, ART) that lowers the amount of the virus in the body.
In fact, 77% of patients given ART have very low amounts of the virus in their bodies. Low amounts of the virus in the body leads to improved health and much longer lives for people with HIV and can help prevent the passing of the virus to others.
Yet, only half of people with HIV are in care and only 28% have their virus under control.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA