National HIV Testing Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about HIV

National HIV Testing Day is observed annually on June 27 to raise awareness of the significance of HIV testing and early diagnosis. This day, also known as NHTD, is essential for encouraging people to increase HIV testing, know their status, and receive the necessary care to treat this illness.

The background of National HIV Testing Day

The HIV virus was discovered by French and American scientists in the 19th century. HIV was co-discovered by Dr. Robert Gallo as the cause of AIDS. This breakthrough allowed companies to begin testing for antibodies produced in response to this virus, with the aim of protecting individuals from HIV’s effects. During this time period, the first tests administered were not to diagnose HIV or AIDS, but to screen donated blood for possible infection. As reported by “TIME” magazine at the time, the fear of contaminated blood was at an all-time high, despite the fact that only a small percentage of individuals had contracted HIV through blood transfusions. Due to the nature of these tests, scientists and laboratories received a large number of false positives; medical uncertainty meant that people did not know whether a positive result indicated infection or merely exposure. A label on one of the earliest tests, which is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, plainly states that it was not intended for HIV or AIDS screening. The stigma associated with the disease hindered the progress of HIV testing among the general public. These factors completely altered the testing procedure. There were added new protocols, new experimental studies, and testing awareness campaigns.

The future, however, appears promising. Timothy Ray Brown, an American, was the first individual to be cured of HIV. Ten years after being diagnosed with leukaemia, which he contracted in college in the late 1990s, he underwent a stem cell transplant. Fortunately for Timothy, his donor’s rare genetic mutation conferred HIV resistance. Timothy has remained HIV-free since then. Since then, scientists have been attempting to replicate this accomplishment and using this knowledge to develop a broadly applicable treatment.

Dozens of scientists laboured around-the-clock in the late 19th century to develop a revolutionary new HIV test that revolutionised the diagnosis of this disease. Ten years later, the National Association of People With AIDS created National HIV Testing Day to encourage more people to undergo testing for this disease. The programme began with great success and has been ongoing ever since.

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5 FACTS ABOUT HIV

Nearly 38 million individuals are afflicted with HIV on a global scale.

Nearly 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV, and approximately 39,000 are infected annually.

Studies estimate that approximately 14% of HIV-positive individuals in the United States are unaware of their status.

Researchers have been attempting to develop an effective HIV vaccine for more than two decades without success.

Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the ‘Berlin patient,’ is the only individual in the world to have been cured of HIV.

NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY DATES