National HIV Testing Day

National HIV Testing Dayopens in new window is an annual observance to promote HIV testing created in 1995 by the National Association of People with AIDS to spread the “Take the Test, Take Control" message across the country. Today, it is estimated that one in seven people with HIV don’t know they have HIV. In a time in which effective HIV treatments are widely available, the imperative for HIV testing has never been greater and the wide availability of HIV testing options assures that knowing your HIV status has never been easier.

We encourage HIV testing on National HIV Testing Day and every day to ensure people get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment services.

The 2020 theme is "Knowing".

APA recognizes the importance of HIV testing in facilitating the care, treatment, mental health and supportive services that people with HIV need to live healthy productive lives. APA encourages everyone to be tested for HIV and advocates actively for accessible and quality HIV test counseling for all persons being tested for HIV. As HIV testing and treatment options expand, APA will continue to work to ensure that prevention counseling and behavioral strategies to promote linkage to and retention in care are updated and remain part of the HIV prevention and treatment continuum of care. Learn more about the importance of counseling in HIV testing and psychologyopens in new window.

APA has been active in supporting research and services for people with HIV/AIDS, as well as those at risk for HIV. The APA resolution Combination Biomedical and Behavioral Approaches to Optimize HIV Preventionopens in new window (PDF, 83KB), emphasizes the need for prevention research incorporating strategies to deal with mental health and substance abuse issues, behavior change and adherence. APA called on Congress, the executive branch and other governmental and nongovernmental agencies to increase support for further research to identify and disseminate effective strategies to prevent and treat HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Subsequently reported data from large scale HIV prevention trials have substantiated these concerns and underscored the important roles that psychology should play in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Behavioral and social science research can inform development of interventions to promote HIV testing, normalize HIV and reduce HIV related stigma and discrimination.

• PrEP: One Essential Tool in the HIV Prevention Toolkit opens in new window 
  A blog post written by Steven Shoptaw, PhD (Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services, University of California, Los Angeles) describes one method that may be useful for those at highest risk for HIV infection. 
• Talking to Clients about Their Sexual Histories and HIV Testing
  A gradPSYCH blog post by David J. Martin, PhD, ABPP, senior director, HIV/AIDS Programs, APA Public Interest Directorate. Martin explains who should get tested and ways to speak to your clients about HIV/AIDS.
• Everyone Should Get Tested
  APA Monitor on Psychology^® article by Gwendolyn Puryear Keita, PhD. Unless health status is detected early through testing, people who have HIV won't know until symptoms emerge. 
• Use hashtag #NHTD to share the following information about National HIV Testing Day, and follow the conversation on APA Public Interest social media. 
• Connect and share photos and videos on Act Against AIDS Instagram #actagainstaids.