Lorain County Public Health provides no cost and confidential HIV tests

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is an infection that may lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) if not treated. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but they may be controlled through treatment. It’s important to find out if you have HIV as soon as possible so you can discuss a treatment option with your doctor and talk with your partner right away. HIV spreads through infected blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk and body fluids that have blood (not saliva or urine). Usually people get infected through sexual contact or by sharing needles to inject drugs. Sometimes, the infection spreads from mom to baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.

How do you prevent HIV?

Practice safe sex by limiting your number of sex partners. Get tested each time you switch partners or before having sex with a new partner. Always use a condom the right way every time you have sex with a partner whose HIV status is unknown. Don’t share needles for any reason. If you’re at a higher risk for getting HIV, but are currently negative, ask your doctor about taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily medication that helps you keep from getting infected with HIV.

The CDC recommends that people ages 13 and up get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Anyone at higher-risk should get tested once per year. Things that put a person at high risk for HIV include: having sex with someone whose HIV status is unknown, sharing needles or injecting drugs, having another sexually transmitted disease (or STD), having hepatitis or having tuberculosis. You’re also at higher risk if you’re a man that has sex with other men, if you’ve had more than one partner since your last HIV test, or if you’ve exchanged sex for drugs or money.

“There’s no cost to get tested for HIV at LCPH and it’s confidential,” said David Covell, MPH, RS, health commissioner at LCPH. You get your results in 20 to 40 minutes. Call LCPH at 440-322-6367 to make an appointment at LCPH’s office, 9880 Murray Ridge Road in Elyria.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, LCPH is taking extra steps to ensure everyone’s safety. Staff and clients are wearing masks and personal protective equipment (PPE) to slow the spread of COVID-19.