The University of Toledo Medical Center will join Walgreens and KFF to provide free and confidential HIV testing on June 27 as part of National HIV Testing Day. UTMC also will provide free testing for syphilis.
The rapid HIV and syphilis tests will be available from noon to 6 p.m. inside the Walgreens at 4580 Monroe St. in Toledo.
Both tests will be administered by UTMC medical professionals in a private area of the store via a finger prick, with results available in about 20 minutes. No appointments are necessary.
“It’s really important that people get tested for these sexually transmitted infections, but we recognize that going to a hospital or clinic to get tested can be overwhelming,” said Danielle Van Fleet, HIV testing coordinator at the UTMC Care Clinic. “Events like this, where testing is available right in your neighborhood, can help to reduce that fear and stigma.”
Walgreens and KFF have partnered to provide in-store HIV testing for National HIV Testing Day since 2011, conducting more than 85,000 tests. This is the first time UTMC has participated in the effort, and the first time HIV testing has been available in Toledo through the nationwide program.
“This program is instrumental in reaching people in community settings, making HIV prevention and treatment options more equitable, accessible and convenient,” said Rick Gates, Walgreens’ chief pharmacy officer.
The latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows approximately 1.1 million Americans ages 13 and older are living with HIV.
About 13% of those individuals don’t know they have HIV, according to the CDC.
“HIV does not have to grow into AIDS,” Van Fleet said. “The sooner we can get someone diagnosed and on medication the better. With proper treatment, you can live a long, healthy life.”
While syphilis also is highly treatable, the rate of new diagnoses continues to rise both in Ohio and nationally.
The number of new syphilis cases diagnosed in Ohio nearly tripled between 2018 and 2022, and Van Fleet said the number of new cases in Lucas County this year is trending well above last year’s total.
One of the challenges of diagnosing both HIV and syphilis, she said, is that the two illnesses are not always included in standard STI test panels.
“A lot of people think if they have an STI test, they’re being tested for everything, but if you’re not getting a blood test, they aren’t testing for syphilis or HIV,” Van Fleet said. “There may be folks out there who are living with a false comfort. We have the medications to treat these, but you can’t be treated if you aren’t tested.”
In addition to the rapid STI testing, UTMC will have Care Clinic representatives on hand who can talk about community resources for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, and treatments to help at-risk individuals reduce their chance of acquiring HIV.
The UTMC Care Clinic provides comprehensive HIV care services through the Ryan White Program and also provides education, prevention and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
