World AIDS Day: The Quick, Easy Guide to Getting Tested

In honor of World AIDS Day, OraSure Technologies and Walgreens have partnered to launch the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Retail Card, which will be made available to public health organizations and advocacy groups to be distributed to at-risk participants at outreach events. Each card will be redeemable for one OraQuick In-Home HIV Test kit at no cost, at any of the more than 8,000 Walgreens and Duane Reade locations nationwide.

To celebrate this impressive move, we've compiled a list of resources for anyone seeking free or low-cost HIV testing in New York City.

Who should get tested?

Everyone! Literally everyone should get tested for HIV at least once! However, the CDC recommends getting tested once every year if you belong to an at-risk population, which includes men who have sex with men, sex workers, people with multiple sexual partners, and injection drug users. Sexually active gay and bisexual men are encouraged to get tested once every three to six months. Women who are pregnant or wish to become pregnant are also encouraged to get tested regularly.

Where can I get tested?

The Testing Center at The David Geffen Center for HIV Prevention and Health Education offers free testing by appointment, as well as free walk-in testing.

After Hours Project in Brooklyn offers free testing by appointment, as well as free walk-in testing and even offers free therapy.

Out of the Closet offers free, 20-minute testing by certified counselors at many of their U.S. locations. A complete list of locations that offer testing can be found on their website.

Planned Parenthood offers HIV testing on a sliding pay scale at all of their locations.

Most universities offer free or reduced cost testing to students. Contact your student health center for more information.

For more information on NYC HIV testing, including additional low-cost or no-cost testing centers, click here.

When should I get tested?

Right now! Schedule your appointment right now. Do it for yourself or for your partner or even for your trade. Just go get tested. You can save a life because, as THEM eloquently explained in their list of 10 Stigma-Busting Myths About HIV: "The only bad HIV test is the one you don't take."