County offers free rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing

June 21, 2016

SOLANO COUNTY – The Department of Health and Social Services, Public Health Division is offering free rapid Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C testing to the public on Monday, June 27 from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara Street in Vallejo as part of National HIV Testing Day.

"This year's theme is 'Doing it’," says Joslyn Moore, Health Assistant with Solano Public Health.  “Doing it is all about incorporating routine HIV testing into your regular health care regimen.”

HIV is a virus that weakens the body’s immune system and can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS without proper medical care.  The virus is spread from person to person mainly through unprotected sex and sharing of drug injection equipment.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 years of age get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.

“The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can get treatment, significantly reducing the possibility of spreading the virus to others,” Moore said.  “The test only takes 20 minutes and is completely confidential.”

The only way to know if you are infected with HIV is to get tested.  For more information, call or text your questions to Solano County Public Health at (707) 398-8317 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.  Phone calls and texts are responded to within 30 minutes.

For more information on the CDC “Doing it” campaign, search #DoingIt