By Dr. Faith Whittier
Friday, June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, a time to raise awareness about the importance of HIV testing and knowing your status. At Northern Nevada HOPES, this day is especially meaningful. Since 1997, we’ve been a trusted provider of HIV/AIDS care in our community — and we remain deeply committed to prevention, treatment, and support.
HIV testing is the first step in protecting your health and the health of others. Whether your result is negative or positive, testing opens the door to life-saving care:
- A negative result means you can access prevention tools like PrEP, PEP, condoms, and STI testing.
- A positive result means you can start antiretroviral therapy (ART) right away, helping you stay healthy and prevent transmission.
- Thanks to advances in treatment, people living with HIV who take ART as prescribed and maintain an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners — a concept known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). This powerful message reduces stigma and empowers people living with HIV to live full, healthy lives.
At HOPES, we offer confidential and rapid HIV testing at both of our clinics:
📍 580 W 5th Street
📍 1905 E 4th Street
Walk in or call for a same-day appointment.
HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system by targeting CD4 cells. Without treatment, it can progress to AIDS. But with early diagnosis and consistent care, people living with HIV can lead long, healthy lives.
We also provide:
- Ongoing HIV care and medication management
- PrEP and PEP access
- Behavioral health and substance use support
- Community education and outreach
Ending the HIV epidemic starts with knowing your status. If you haven’t been tested recently — or ever — now is the time.
Visit nnhopes.org/patients/health-services/hiv/ to learn more, or stop by walk into our clinic to get tested today.
Your health. Your future. Know your status.
