CDC Pilot Program Will Offer No-Cost HIV Testing at Pharmacies
June 28, 2012 — CDC on Tuesday announced that Walgreens and several other U.S. pharmacies will offer no-cost, rapid HIV tests in a limited number of locations as part of a two-year pilot project to make HIV tests more convenient and accessible to U.S. residents, Reuters reports (Ebrahim, Reuters, 6/26).
The $1.2 million initiative will provide training for staff in pharmacies and in-store clinics in 24 cities and rural communities nationwide to perform the mouth swab test and provide results within 20 minutes, according to AP/USA Today. Pharmacists will be instructed to refer customers who test positive to a local health care provider for a blood test to confirm the results, treatment and counseling.
Many drugstores already offer a variety of health services, such as blood pressure checks and flu shots, according to AP/USA Today. CDC officials said the goal is to make HIV testing another routine service (Stobbe, AP/USA Today, 6/26).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
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