Program to give free HIV tests

Students who are looking to get tested for HIV can do so today in the Indiana Memorial Union.

“We locally are finding our ‘positive’ ranges for HIV tend to be college-age kids, so we are definitely trying to target that population,” said Meredith Short, community health educator for Bloomington Hospital Positive Link.

With that goal in mind, Positive Link is providing free HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the Dogwood Room in the IMU.

The test consists of an oral swab and takes 20 minutes, during which students will fill out confidential questionnaires concerning their sexual activity. The tests are painless and confidential, Short said.

Students can contact the IU Health Center at 855-7338 for more information about IU Test Day.

“I think it’s a really important issue,” said sophomore Mary Ellen Finnegan. “I’m really glad they’re doing this.”

Freshman Julianna Knight agreed the tests are a good idea.

“A lot of the people think that the symptoms aren’t visible on the outside,” she said, “but that doesn’t rule out having HIV, so people should get tested. It’s a great idea.”