Local Walgreens to participate in National HIV Testing Day

ALBANY– The Southwest Public Health District, Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS are working with 220 health departments, AIDS service organizations and other community organizations to help provide free HIV testing and information at participating Walgreens stores in more than 180 cities, including Albany.

On June 27, National HIV Testing Day, the Albany testing site will be the Walgreens located at 300 N. Slappey Blvd., with testing running from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Testers will receive gift cards, gift bags, promo bags and safer sex kits, while supplies last.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HIV testing as part of routine health care. An estimated 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and approximately 1 in 7 is unaware of his or her status.

Since 2011, more than 40,000 HIV tests have been conducted as part of the effort. BioLytical Laboratories and OraSure Technologies Inc. are donating test kits, and Abbott Rapid Diagnostics is providing support for outreach. Local agencies will be at participating Walgreens stores to provide free, confidential, and fast test results on site, without the need to schedule an appointment. Counselors will be on hand to answer questions about HIV prevention and treatment options, including PrEP, a medication that offers another effective means of protection for those testing negative for HIV.

“Walgreens has supported people living with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic more than 30 years ago,” Glen Pietrandoni, senior director of patient care and advocacy at Walgreens, said. “Early testing can mean access to effective treatment and the opportunity to go on to live a healthy, normal lifespan. In addition, with proper adherence to medication, successfully treated patients cannot easily transmit the virus to others.

“As we continue to work towards an end to HIV/AIDS, it is crucial that testing and trusted resources on treatment are made more widely available within communities.”

All year round, HIV-trained pharmacy staff are available at more than 1,000 Walgreens locations nationwide, including communities with high HIV prevalence. The pharmacies’ staffs offer one-on-one, confidential medication counseling to support treatment adherence and help with other care needs, such as identifying financial assistance options.

For a complete list of participating Walgreens locations and supporting partners for this year’s National HIV Testing Day, as well as additional information about HIV testing and year-round testing sites, visit www.greaterthan.org/walgreens.

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