National HIV Testing Day

“Take the Test. Take Control.” is the theme of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2013. Although progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the epidemic continues to wreak havoc in the United States and abroad. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is the lead U.S. government agency for HIV/AIDS research.

You can do your part in the fight against HIV/AIDS by participating in a clinical research trial to help NIAID better understand how HIV causes AIDS, find new tools to prevent HIV infections, develop new and more effective treatments for people infected with HIV, and hopefully find a cure. The following are a few clinical research studies that are seeking volunteers:

• The HPTN 065 study, also known as TLC-Plus (for test, link-to-care plus treat), is taking place in Washington, DC, and the Bronx, NY, to evaluate the feasibility of an enhanced community-level strategy focused on increasing the number of people being tested for HIV, evaluating ways to link HIV-infected people to HIV care sites, evaluating methods to reinforce antiretroviral therapy adherence, and evaluating a counseling program that focuses on HIV prevention.
• The Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) study seeks to answer the question, “When is the best time to start HIV medications?” The START study is not testing new HIV medicine, rather it helps NIAID understand if it is better to start taking HIV medicines as soon as you know that you have HIV or to wait and follow the current treatment guidelines.
• Vaccine research studies also are being conducted to find a safe, effective, and durable HIV vaccine, which remains a top priority for NIAID. Healthy volunteers ages 18 to 70 may be eligible to help researchers develop potentially lifesaving vaccines.