Too Many People Living with HIV in the U.S. Don’t Know It

Content From: HIV.govPublished: June 10, 20192 min read

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Get tested for HIV...CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested at least once. People with certain risk factors should get tested more often. Find an HIV testing site near you: Locator.HIV.gov

Approximately 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV today. But not all of them know it. In fact, about 15 percent (or 1 in 7) of them are not aware they are living with HIV. That means there are approximately 165,000 people in the U.S. who do not know that they are living with HIV. They are not getting the care and treatment that can preserve their health and protect their partners from getting HIV, too.

Everyone Should Know Their HIV Status

That’s why it’s so important for everyone to know their HIV status. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested.

CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. If your behavior puts you at risk after you are tested, you should think about being tested again. Some people who remain at higher risk should get tested more often.

Graphic showing people standing in a row. There are many places to get an HIV test. Find one near you: Locator.HIV.gov.

Find HIV Testing Options Near You Today

There are many places to get an HIV test. The tests are easy, quick, and often free.

To find locations near you where HIV tests are available, read HIV.gov’s updated HIV Testing Locations page.

In companion pages on the site you can also find answers to questions including:

HIV Testing = Powerful Information

Knowing your HIV status gives you powerful information to help you take steps to keep you and your partner(s) healthy.

  • If you test positive, you can take highly effective HIV medicine that will protect your health so you can live long and health life and prevent transmitting the virus to your sexual partners.
  • If you test negative, you have more tools available today to prevent HIV than ever before. Talk to your healthcare provider about which one(s) are right for you.

Know your HIV status, and encourage others to get tested so they know theirs.

HIV testing is a key strategy in Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America, the plan to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 75% in five years and by at least 90% in 10 years. The Plan’s first pillar calls for all people with HIV to be diagnosed as early as possible after infection so they can begin care and treatment that can protect their health, prolong their life, and prevent transmission of the virus to their partners.