Among my duties here at the CARE Program I also do the HIV testing. CARE offers free rapid testing for HIV using an oral swab, with results in twenty minutes.
As part of the testing process I fill out a risk assessment form with the client. By the time the client leaves my office, they should have a pretty good idea of their own risk of aquiring HIV. The questions fall into two categories--those that address the mechanics of transmission--like sharing needles, or what body part is going in what orafice. The other questions assess risk in terms of risk groups.
Everyone is a individual, but some groups have higher numbers of people living with HIV. In public health, this is called prevalence. If you have sex with someone in a high-risk group, you're more likely to be having sex with someone who is positive.
By far the group with the highest prevalence is gay men. In Long Beach, like most urban areas, HIV prevalence among gay men is as high as one in four or one in five. Other high-risk groups include sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgenders, and men who have been incarcerated.
It's good to protect yourself by using condoms--or clean needles if you inject, and it's also good to be aware of the amount of HIV in the "pool" of people you're swimming with.
If you'd like to get tested for HIV, our office is located at 411 East 10th Street, Suite 107, Long Beach, CA 90813. To schedule an appointment, call (562) 624-4900. Testing hours and information are located here.
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