IU Health Offering Free HIV and Hepatitis C Testing

(BEDFORD) – Beginning February 13th, Indiana University Health Bedford Hospital will offer free, rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing.

The tests will be offered from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. every Thursday through March 19th at IU Health Bedford. There will be no testing on March 6th. Testing will be done in the human resources conference room in the administration hallway which is accessed through the Emergency Room department.

Free testing will also be offered on Feb. 19th at the Lawrence County Health Department from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and on Feb. 26th at Lawrence County Recovery Engagement Center from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Tests will be offered every Monday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at IU Health Paoli Hospital. Testing will be done in the Professional Building.

Walk-ins are welcome and results are confidential.

The program is provided by Positive Link, a division of IU Health Bloomington Community Health Department.

Should I be Tested for HIV?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults be tested once in their lifetime and more frequently for those with risk factors. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, the CDC recommends that you obtain an HIV test:

  • Are you a man who has had sex with another man?
  • Have you had sex – anal or vaginal – with an HIV-positive partner?
  • Have you had more than one sex partner since your last HIV test?
  • Have you injected drugs and shared needles or works (for example, water or cotton) with others?
  • Have you exchanged sex for drugs or money?
  • Have you been diagnosed with or sought treatment for another sexually transmitted disease?
  • Have you been diagnosed with or treated for hepatitis or tuberculosis (TB)?
  • Have you had sex with someone who could answer yes to any of the above questions or someone whose sexual history you don’t know?

Call Kim Fletcher, Community Health Educator, at 812-723-7573 for more information on the testing.

Fletcher also does outreach testing and education on sexually transmitted infections at various sites throughout Orange, Lawrence, Martin, Daviess, Jackson, Jennings, and Washington counties.