ARLINGTON, Va. — June 27 is National HIV Testing Day when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unites with partners from health departments and other organizations to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and early diagnosis of HIV.

The NACDS Foundation has been actively involved in funding studies to evaluate a model which may provide patients with increased access to HIV and hepatitis C testing and link patients to a specialized physician or health department for follow-up care.

Nearly 45,000 people are diagnosed with HIV every year and approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. are currently living with HIV. However, one in eight people don’t know they have it. The need for testing and increased awareness is critical, as more than 90 percent of HIV infections in the U.S. could be prevented by testing and diagnosing people with HIV and making sure they receive early, ongoing treatment. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV as part of routine healthcare.