HIV Testing is available at the ONU Health Center for free.
The Human Immune Virus (HIV) affects approximately 1.1 million people in the United States. One in six people with HIV are unaware that they have it. An HIV test is the only definitive way to determine if one is or is not infected with HIV.
“With the idea of that we have a population of young adults traveling all over the world for whatever reason, it was an opportunity that I thought we should have with this age population on the College Campus.” said Karen Schroeder, the Health Center Director, in regards as to why they began offering HIV Testing.
The Health Center has been offering HIV tests for nearly three years. Testing is done by an Allen County Health Department employee usually on the fourth Thursday of each month, unless impeded by holidays, such as Thanksgiving, when it would be the third Thursday instead.
Testing is performed in an almost anonymous way. Students simply need to come to the center during testing time from 3 to 5 P.M. and write that they would like an HIV test. The test itself is a quick oral swab with results in twenty minutes. Hepatitis C testing is also available and is a rapid test that gives results in minutes.
There is no cost for the testing, and on-campus test serves as an alternative to traveling to hospitals, such as Lima Memorial Hospital, where the test would carry a price that may or may not be covered by insurance.
Each month between five and ten tests are given. The most recent testing session for October saw an excess of students desiring tests, some of which had to be turned away.