OGDEN — The Weber-Morgan Health Department is offering free HIV testing on June 27, National HIV Testing Day, at its downtown Ogden clinic.

“Anyone who has had unprotected sex, used IV drugs, shared injection equipment, been a victim of sexual assault, had an occupational exposure, blood transfusion or transplant, should seek testing,” said Lekelsi Talbot, public health nurse with the Weber-Morgan Health Department, in a news release. “Many people who are infected lead healthy lives for years, but knowing your immune system has been compromised is the first step to treatment and preventing…complications.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates one of every eight who have HIV in the U.S. don’t know they carry the disease. However, through testing and successful diagnoses, the CDC estimates more than 90 percent of new HIV infections can be prevented.

The rapid blood tests, which usually cost $15, will be administered for free in hopes of curtailing the spread of the disease and can offer results in about 15 minutes, according to the release.

Those infected with HIV may unknowingly transmit antibodies of the virus that causes AIDS to others before developing serious symptoms, including cancer or other illnesses due to a weakened immune system.

“A negative test provides a timeline in the event a positive test does occur later, and we can begin treatment and prevention measures quickly to have greater assurance that the appropriate people are getting tested and treated,” Talbot said.

The CDC says at-risk individuals include people with more than one sex partner, people with STDs and people who inject drugs. It also recommends testing for everyone ages 13 to 64 at least once as part of a routine health care — more frequent testing for those with the above-mentioned risk factors — and additional testing for each woman’s pregnancy or planned pregnancy.

Testing will be done from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Ogden clinic, 447 E. 23rd Street. Weber Morgan-Health Department encourages appointments to be made, but says walk-ins are welcome, according to the release.

For more information, or to make an appointment, contact the clinic at 801-399-7250.

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