**Change Point is no longer a service of Northern Nevada HOPES.
Get Free, Rapid and Confidential HIV and Hepatitis C testing on June 27 during National HIV Testing Day at Northern Nevada HOPES
(Reno, Nev.) June 25, 2018 – Northern Nevada HOPES’ Risk Reduction Support center, Change Point, is offering free and confidential HIV and hepatitis C (HEP C) testing on June 27 in recognition of National HIV Testing Day.
The event will take place at Change Point on the HOPES campus, 580 W. 5th Street, Reno, NV 89503, from 11 am to 3 pm.
“HOPES’ friendly staff makes getting tested for HIV and HEP C testing as painless as possible,” said Hanin Abboud, Director of Change Point at Northern Nevada HOPES. “Regular testing is an important tool to stopping the spread of HIV in communities across the country.”
Drop-in HIV and HEP C testing at Change Point is free and confidential. Tests are generally processed in less than 20 minutes. If an individual does test positive for HIV, HOPES staff will follow up with a confirmatory test and will link the individual into care at HOPES.
According to new data released by the CDC this year, new cases of hepatitis C rose 350 percent between 2010 and 2016. The number of new HIV infections has declined throughout the country; however, certain communities including young people living in rural areas are experiencing increases of HIV due to injection drug use.
“The only way to know your status is to get tested,” said Abboud.
HOPES staff will also be distributing free safe sex kits and Naloxone kits – an opioid antagonist used for opioid overdose reversal. Additional community partners will be at the event, including Immunize Nevada, Family Counseling Center, The Life Change Center, and additional HOPES programs to provide resources for attendees.
