AIDGwinnett to participate in National HIV Testing Day

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

DULUTH - June 27 is National HIV Testing Day and a local organization aims to reach as many people who would like to be screened as possible.

AIDGwinnett, a nonprofit organization that provides supportive services and prevention education, will be open for business that day -a Saturday - from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. to better serve those whose work schedule prevents them from coming in during the week.

Kyle Monroe-Spencer, director of HIV prevention education, said the rapid testing can be a benefit to anyone who is sexually active or shares injection needles.

"For people who test positive, the advancements in the treatment of HIV make it important for people to know their status as soon as possible after infection," she said. "With treatment, they can stay healthier longer. For people who test negative, the HIV prevention counseling that accompanies the test is proven to help people reduce their risks so they remain negative."

The test takes about 20 minutes and uses no needles, Monroe-Spencer said.

Through March, the organization provided about 350 HIV tests and identified five HIV-positive individuals Monroe-Spencer said will benefit from early care services.

For more information on testing or AIDGwinnett, call 678-990-6430 or log onto www.aidgwinnett.org. AIDGwinnett is located at 3075 Breckinridge Blvd., Suite 415, in Duluth.

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