CLEVELAND — A Cleveland-based medical center is offering free HIV and hepatitis C testing.
Signature Health will be offering walk-in testing at their Lakewood, Beachwood, Maple Heights, Willoughby, Painesville and Ashtabula locations, as well as at the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland.
To preserve confidentiality, anyone that wants to get tested can ask for "free testing" at the check-in window.
“HIV is both treatable and preventable. Getting healthy and staying healthy all starts with a test. If a patient does not have HIV infection, medication is available that can dramatically reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. If a patient does have an HIV infection, treatment can help them live a long and healthy life,” said Dr. Sarah Hoehnen.
Program Details:
- Free HIV and hepatitis C screening and testing.
- The test is a quick finger stick with results in 20 minutes.
- One does not have to be a patient, nor become a Signature Health patient.
- Same- or next-day Infectious Disease appointments are available for individuals who test positive for HIV.
- Connection to care is available for STI testing, medication to prevent HIV (PrEP), and hepatitis C.
- A risk assessment screening will be completed prior to testing. Individuals at high risk for HIV will be offered a rapid HIV test. Connection to other resources will be offered for individuals at low risk.
The program started last year but was temporarily canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Free testing takes place Monday through Friday.
