June 2013 - AIDS.gov Blog - The Network of Care

FDA approves first genotyping test for patients with hepatitis C virus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a test that identifies the genotypeof hepatitis C virus (HCV) that apatientis carrying. The Abbott RealTime HCV Genotype II, which can differentiate genotypes 1, 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 4, and 5,using a sample...

Published Fri, Jun 28 2013 2:26 PM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: FDA, HIV Policy & Programs, Viral Hepatitis

AIDSVu Maps Depict Impact of HIV in America

Yesterday, National HIV Testing Day, marked the third annual update to AIDSVu , an interactive online tool that maps the HIV epidemic across the United States. A project of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, AIDSVu displays HIV prevalence...

Published Fri, Jun 28 2013 5:34 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV Policy & Programs

Take the Test and Take Control: National HIV Testing Day

Take control of your health and observe the nineteenth annual National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) by taking an HIV test. The 2013 NHTD theme, “Take the Test and Take Control,” promotes the importance of HIV testing in detecting, treating, and preventing human...

Published Thu, Jun 27 2013 2:00 PM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, Testing, SAMHSA, HIV Policy & Programs

Advances in HIV Testing

Today is the 19th annual National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). HIV testing is the first critical step to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, and testing and linkage to care continue to be the mainstay of our prevention efforts at the Center for Disease...

Published Thu, Jun 27 2013 1:27 PM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, Testing, CDC, HIV Policy & Programs

New NHTD Video from the White House Office of National AIDS Policy

The AIDS.gov team thanks Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), for working with us on a video message to promote HIV testing for National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). In the video, Dr. Colfax stresses the availability...

Published Thu, Jun 27 2013 7:48 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, Testing, National HIV/AIDS Strategy, HIV Policy & Programs

ADA.gov: National HIV Testing Day is June 27

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, a day dedicated to encouraging people to get tested for HIV. An estimated 1.1 million people in the United States live with HIV, and approximately 18% do not know they have the virus. The Civil Rights Division of the...

Published Thu, Jun 27 2013 6:00 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, Testing

Statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Supreme Court Ruling on Defense of Marriage Act

Today’s Supreme Court decision finding the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional is a victory for equality, which is a core belief of this administration. It is also a victory for families, especially those children whose parents’ legal same sex marriages...

Published Wed, Jun 26 2013 2:15 PM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV Policy & Programs

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Statement for National HIV Testing Day 2013

Today, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a statement recognizing the 19th annual observance of National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). We are grateful to the Secretary, who also worked with the AIDS.gov team to record two video public service announcements...

Published Wed, Jun 26 2013 7:51 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, Testing, HIV Policy & Programs, Women and Girls

USPSTF Releases Hepatitis C Screening Recommendations

The new Recommendation Statement on screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) this week represents a critical step toward achieving the prevention, care and treatment goals outlined in the federal...

Published Tue, Jun 25 2013 2:15 PM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: HIV Policy & Programs, Viral Hepatitis

Using Video to Share your Story: An Interview with KenLikeBarbie

We’ve previously featured Ken Williams’ videos on this blog. As an African American man living with HIV, Ken uses YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to share his story. As we approach National HIV Testing Day on June 27, we sat down with Ken (actually...

Published Tue, Jun 25 2013 1:36 PM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: New Media, Social Networks, Video Sharing, People Living With HIV

Funds Available for New Media Planning

We know that using new media can help HIV/AIDS service organizations extend the reach of their programs and messaging. At the same time, new media is helping to advance the goals of the Digital Government Strategy (DGS), which calls on us “to ask ourselves...

Published Mon, Jun 24 2013 10:30 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: Strategy/Planning, New Media, Communities of Color

HIV Testing Sites and Care Services Locator – A Tool for Clinicians

As an HIV physician who sees patients at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, I want to share a valuable resource for you and your patients with you. The HIV Testing Sites and Care Services Locator is a unique, online, location-based search tool...

Published Fri, Jun 21 2013 8:56 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: New Media, Testing

HUD Awards $32 Million to 30 Local HIV-AIDS Housing Programs

[Last month], the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced $32 million in grant awards to assist more than 1,300 extremely low-income persons and families living with HIV/AIDS annually. The grant awards will provide these households...

Published Fri, Jun 21 2013 5:30 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: Housing, HIV Policy & Programs

Mermin Named Director of CDC Center

Jonathan “Jono” Mermin, MD, MPH, has been appointed as the new director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He will begin his tenure on July 25...

Published Thu, Jun 20 2013 11:56 AM by AIDS.gov blog

Filed under: CDC, HIV Policy & Programs

HHS releases new Public Health Service guideline to reduce disease transmission through organ transplantation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 2013 Updated recommendations can reduce unexpected disease transmission in organ recipients Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new guideline to improve patient safety by reducing unexpected...

Published Thu, Jun 20 2013 11:43 AM by AIDS.gov blog