It's National HIV Testing Day.
Free confidential testing is taking place across the country.
While new cases are dropping in Tennessee, people are still getting infected.
The fastest growing population is the college aged.
A quick and easy test can reveal your status.
Outside the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga they got the word out.
James McKissic, Chief Operating Officer Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, "We're just really excited to be able to offer this to the community."
Free, confidential HIV testing drew around 20 people in just the first hour.
McKissic, "It's important that people know their status. We did a survey of Urban League clients and found out that about 40% of the people we work with don't know their HIV status, so we wanted to make this available."
Nordia Epps, Reporting, "We wanted to show you just how easy and confidential this whole process is. It all starts with signing in."
All they need is your zip code, race and gender.
There's a bit more paper work asking for details in private.
Nordia, "Hi."
Then it's time for the test...a tiny prick...or a cheek swab.
Nordia, "And that's it."
In about 20 minutes you know your results.
Depending on your behavior, the CDC recommends testing every one week to three months.
HIV Prevention Advocates suggest everyone get tested annually.
Jerry Evans, Chattanooga Cares, "Make it part of your routine health care and that's really where we want it to be. Every year you get your physical, you get a wellness check, go ahead and get your HIV test."
Because a diagnosis...especially an early one...is vital.
McKissic, "The stigma, you know, back in the 80s and 90s was there, but now it's very different. People are living full, rich complete lives, getting the medication that they need, but if you don't get tested and you don't know your status you can't really act accordingly."
To keep waging war on HIV/AIDS.
The numbers show around 1,000 new infections in Tennessee every year.
But local prevention advocates say that would increase if more people got tested.
