Knowledge is power! You've probably heard that saying hundreds of times (it's a personal favorite of moms, grandparents and teachers across the world). Well, when it comes to HIV/AIDS testing that old cliché is 100% true. If you've ever had sex with a man or a woman without a condom, or ever injected drugs (even if only once), the only way to know for sure if you are infected or not is to take the HIV test. Knowing your HIV status, whether negative or positive, empowers you to better protect your health and those you love.

People who test negative and don't have HIV, can learn more about prevention and ways to reduce their risk. Those individuals, who test positive for the virus, will have access to life-saving treatment and will learn how they can stem the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Facts you Should Know

* More than 100,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV. Nearly one-third (32%) of these individuals are of Hispanic/Latino descent

* As many as 1 in 4 don't know they're infected * Almost 40% of new Latina infections occur through heterosexual contact (sexual activity with a man). The rate of HIV infection among Hispanic women is 13 times higher than white women in New York.

* Latino men are 4 times more likely to die of AIDS than white men.

* Hispanic teens represent more than one in five (21%) of the new AIDS cases reported among teens (ages 13-19)

About the Test

Rapid HIV testing can be done on a drop of blood from a finger or a specimen gathered by swiping a cotton swab on the inside of the mouth. Rapid oral and blood tests are over 99% accurate and results are available in less than 30 minutes.

Standard HIV testing can also be conducted by collecting blood or oral fluid specimens. Standard HIV tests are sent to a laboratory for analysis and results are generally available in 1-2 weeks.

Love Life: Get Tested. There is no reason to wait, getting a test is easy, painless, confidential and free of charge.

Latino HIV Testing Month 2008

During the entire month of July, social service organizations throughout the state of New York will be providing free HIV testing, counseling and prevention education as part of Latino HIV Testing Month (LHTM). The campaign aims to:

* Heighten awareness of the importance of HIV testing among Latino New Yorkers

* De-stigmatize AIDS and HIV testing in Latino communities across New York State

* Increase the number of Latinos who know their HIV status in New York State

Latino HIV Testing Month is the perfect time for you and those you love to take action and get tested for HIV. For more information on Latino HIV Testing Month call the Hispanic Federation at 866-432-9832 or the Latino Commission at 212-675-3288.