Free HIV Testing

In light of HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, representatives from TACT came to ODU last week to provide free HIV testing. Free testing was held last Thursday and Friday in the River Rooms in Webb Center. On Thursday, tests were similar to those of blood sugar tests where they pricked your finger and tested your blood for the virus. Students who went to get tested on Friday were given mouth swab that tested for the oresence of antibodies. The mouth swab results came back in 20 minutes. During the testing, students were asked to fill out a waiver giving their consent to be tested for HIV, and asked if they were sexually active. Next, they were given the mouth swabs and sent to another room to get counseling from a TACT representative where they were asked questions about their sexually history. They also were asked to fill out a survey. Representatives were very friendly and gave students their contact information to the free testing sites. I strongly encourage each of you to get tested and know your status.