SC state health officials stress HIV testing

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina health officials are stressing the importance of HIV testing as part of a national campaign.

Monday is National HIV Testing Day. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control says events are being held throughout this week to highlight the need for HIV and AIDS testing.

DHEC’s Janet Tapp says a variety of testing options is available, including a rapid HIV test, which shows preliminary results within an hour.

State health officials say more than 15,000 people are living with HIV in South Carolina. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 1.1 million Americans live with HIV, and about 230,000 of them are unaware they are infected with the virus.