Clinics Offer New HIV Test Today for Free
Looking for a belated Valentine’s Day gift?
In honor of the day of romance, West Los Angeles medical clinics are offering the public free, anonymous AIDS testing today to encourage people to check their HIV status for themselves and those they love--with a twist. Century City Hospital and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinics are introducing a newly approved oral HIV test, a painless method that draws a sample from tissues between the cheek and gum.
The oral test, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June, tests for HIV antibodies with a specially treated pad that is placed between the lower cheek and gum for two minutes. The fluid collected by the pad is tested for antibodies in the same way blood samples are analyzed.
Testing will be done from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Center at Century City Hospital, 2080 Century Park East, Suite 605. Visitors can also get free educational literature about AIDS and pre- and post-test counseling. Participants will receive their test results in five days.
