New and Improved HIV Test!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Today a new HIV test was approved for usage in the United States.  Although the test is already widely used in Europe as the primary test used to detect HIV, it has just been approved on expedited review by the FDA.

ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo, the new test released by Abbott Laboritories, tests for HIV antigens and antibodies (hence the “combo”) and will be widely available for usage soon. Antigens are specific proteins that bind to the antibody and allow it to develop and fight.  More importantly, antigens are present in the body before the production of antibodies.

Now, HIV can be detected in the body weeks, even months, earlier than before! This is CRUCIAL to preventing the spread of HIV because newly infected individuals are often the most contagious (since they haven’t produced those antibodies). However, regardless of whether you get the NEW test or the “OLD” test… Get TESTED!

Click here for testing sites near you!

July 2nd Messages of Hope

Friday, July 2, 2010

Come out and join ASK US this Friday July 2nd, from 10am - 2pm, @ AID Atlanta, Inc. to decorate messages of hope… 

National HIV Testing Day

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The History of National Testing Day

According to CDC, since 2004 there has been a 15% increase in the diagnosis of HIV in America. This statistic means two things: more peopeel are being tested, and more people are testing positive for HIV. So we ALL nee to play it SAFER, and get tested! Lucky for us, National HIV Testing Day is coming up!

As all of you active and aware HIV advocates know, June 27th 2010 is National HIV Testing Day. Clinics, health services, and community organizations all over the United States will open their doors and go out into the community to administer quick, easy, and accurate HIV tests to anyone and everyone. So when and how, exactly, did National HIV Testing Day come about?

In 1995, the National Association of People with AIDS  in a partnership with the Center of Disease Control, and other organizations started the first annual National HIV Testing Day. It  was developed especially to provide our country with a new outlook and new face to the disease. Since HIV’s debut on the national scene in the mid-1980’s, it was largely seen as a disease only acquired by drug-users and gay men. National HIV Testing Day’s mission was to change this stereotype, and show the world that ALL people, especially those in minority communities were at risk.

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that there are more than 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, 25% of those people do not know they have it. So, in the spirit of those who, for more than 15 years, have advocated national testing, celebrate National HIV Testing Day and go get TESTED! Oh! And bring a friend!

Here a link to find a testing site near you!

Join us for “A T-shirt Affair”

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

We would like to extend a cordial invitation to the community to come out and show support of “A T-shirt Affair” presented by the Metro-wide Atlanta Youth Advocacy Coalition (MAYAC) ages 13-24. This will be held on the last Saturday of the month, February 27^th from 4-6 p.m. @ Atlanta Metropolitan College.

The event will showcase an artistic fashion show uniting youth throughout Metropolitan Atlanta as ONE voice to promote HIV/AIDS related concerns: awareness, education, testing and other issues in the community.

Please RSVP to askusteens@aidatlanta.org by February 23^rd.

We look forward to seeing you there!