Health Center holds free HIV testing for students all week

A table littered with HIV-awareness and safe-sex literature greeted students as they walked into a dimly lit room Tuesday. John Norris and SuChin Pak's MTV special "Fight for Your Rights: Protect Yourself" played on the big screen. Straight ahead was a table where volunteers sat ready to explain the HIV testing procedure to students who had gathered enough courage to come in.\nOnce a year, the IU Health Center partners with Bloomington Hospital-Positive Link to offer free HIV testing to students. Testing was conducted in the Dogwood Room at the Indiana Memorial Union. More than 100 students showed up to be tested.\nPositive Link is a part of the Bloomington Hospital and Healthcare System. They offer free, anonymous and confidential HIV testing, as well as free counseling offered for those living with HIV or AIDS.\n"We're here to hopefully give people peace of mind," said Karen Danielson of Positive Link.\nTwenty-minute results are a big influence in motivating students to come out and be tested, Danielson said. In the past, students were forced to wait two to three weeks before seeing results.\n"That's a long, long time to wait," Danielson said. "Some people didn't come back."\nThe IU Health Center offers HIV testing, but only by appointment, said Anne Reese, director of Health and Wellness Education at the IU Health Center. The charge is $15. Students must wait two days to one week before getting their results, depending on what day they come in.\nPositive Link offers free testing with no appointment necessary Monday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at its office, 333 E. Miller Dr. Results are ready in 20 minutes.\n"People feel like this is a huge weight on their shoulders," Danielson said. "They really just want to clear their mind of that worry."\nStudents were asked to fill out a brief, confidential form and wait for their number to be called. A simple finger prick to extract blood was performed. Twenty minutes later students were presented with their results in private room.\n"It's really important to get tested," said senior volunteer Elana Habib. Six to eight student volunteers were present throughout the day to help with the event. Positive Link employees performed testing in another room.\nEmployees and volunteers said they understand the importance of HIV awareness.\n"HIV is a huge problem in the community," Habib said. "I want to help out for the rest of my life."\nDanielson said HIV is a disease that can be prevented.\n"The most important message that we can give them is that they can remain negative," Danielson said. "We're helping people understand better how they can help themselves."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Brad Keist at bkeist@indiana.edu.