Doctors rarely test young men for HIV, CDC reports

Young men who visit their doctor every year may get routinely tested for many things — but HIV is often not one of them, a study has discovered.

The findings from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are of special note Monday because it's been dubbed National HIV Testing Day by the CDC.

Just one percent of doctor visits for young men between 2009 and 2012 included an HIV test, the CDC reported. The lack of testing is especially concerning considering that the vast majority of new HIV infections appear in men between 20 and 29.

Public health officials say screening for HIV is a critical step in effectively treating HIV cases and in preventing new ones.

"HIV testing should be part of everyone's regular health routine to keep ourselves and our community healthy," the Minnesota commissioner of health, Dr. Ed Ehlinger, said in a news release.

In Minnesota, the state health department is joining with several community groups to offer free HIV testings. The test sites are:

Face to Face will be open for free, rapid HIV testing throughout Monday at its clinic, 1165 Arcade St., St. Paul. It also will offer testing at its youth drop-in center, SafeZone, 130 E 7th St., St. Paul, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Regular open testing hours at clinic are Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. Regular open testing hours at SafeZone are Mondays and Tuesdays from 1 to 3:30 p.m.)

African Health Action will host its 5th Annual Community Health Fair from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 20 at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, 10360 West River Road, Brooklyn Park.

Rural AIDS Action Network (RAAN) will be at the following Pride festivals around the region:

• July 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Peace Plaza, 15 1st St. SE, Rochester.

• Aug. 20 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Island Park, 700 2nd Av., Fargo, N.D.

• Sept. 3, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Bayfront Park, 350 Harbor Dr., Duluth.

• Sept. 10, noon to 5 p.m., Riverfront Park, 310 W. Rock St., Mankato.

• September 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lake George/Eastman Park, 1109 7th St S., St Cloud.

"To Your Health" offers quick doses of health news several times a week.

Allie Shah • 612-673-4488

@allieshah