In recognition of National HIV Testing Day, Philadelphians are being urged to get tested, with the day serving not just as a commemorative occasion but as an essential public health reminder. As reported by the City of Philadelphia, free and confidential testing options are widely accessible, emphasizing that knowing your HIV status is a critical step toward prevention and care.

Health Center 1, situated at 1930 S. Broad St., offers testing and treatment for several STDs, including HIV, for anyone over the age of 13. With a swift blood sample, results are available promptly, and follow-up resources are provided whether the outcome is positive or negative. As the City of Philadelphia notes, individuals can discuss Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) or, if exposed to HIV recently, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) with healthcare providers at the center. Seeking a test requires no prior scheduling, just a form of ID.

Beyond clinic walls, the city boosts its outreach with resource hubs in North and Southwest Philadelphia, offering weekly walk-up testing. Residents aged 17 and older can also claim at-home test kits from these hubs, limited to one every three months—each containing an OraQuick In-Home HIV Test and explanatory materials. The aim is straightforward: make testing as hassle-free as possible, a sentiment echoed by the informational cards joined with each at-home kit that guides users through the testing process and explains the results.

For those favoring privacy or unable to visit a testing site, at-home kits can be dispatched directly to homes via the Philly, Keep On Loving website. In the spirit of reaching all residents, the service adapts by offering house calls for those who request it.