National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) was first observed on June 27, 1995. This is a day to encourage people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment.
The theme for 2025, “Level up your self-love: check your status” emphasizes valuing yourself, showing yourself compassion and respect, and honoring your health needs with self-love. Knowing your HIV status helps you choose options to stay healthy. Visit CDC’s NHTD page in English and Spanish to learn more.
HIV testing, including self-testing, is the pathway to engaging people in care to keep them healthy, regardless of their test result. People who receive a negative test result can take advantage of HIV prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), condoms, and other sexual health services such as vaccines and testing for sexually transmitted infections. People who receive a positive test result can rapidly start HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy, or ART) to stay healthy.
Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative continues to guide efforts to help us reach all people who can benefit from HIV prevention and care. HIV self-testing like Together Take Me Home (TTMH) helps provide free testing to people who do not have easy access to in-person testing services and can reduce stigma for those who may be reluctant to go for an in-person HIV test.
Locally, CAN Community Health will offer free testing at Walgreens in Ghent at 810 W. 21st Street tomorrow from 10 AM to 6 PM.
