Although it may not dominate headlines as it did in the ’80s, [HIV](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524?mc_id=us&utm_source=newsnetwork&utm_medium=l&utm_content=content&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&invsrc=other&cauid=100721) remains a critical health issue. According to the [World Health Organization](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hiv-aids), approximately 38 million people are currently living with HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS.
June 27 marks National HIV Testing Day, emphasizing the importance of getting tested and knowing your HIV status. This year’s theme focuses on self-testing, underscoring how knowing your status can help you make informed decisions to maintain your health.
[Dr. Stacey Rizza](https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/rizza-stacey-a-m-d/bio-20054180?mc_id=us&utm_source=newsnetwork&utm_medium=l&utm_content=content&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&invsrc=other&cauid=100721), an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic, stresses the need for greater awareness about the virus. “I want people to know that it’s still prevalent in society,” she says.
**[Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute](https://youtu.be/K53pZzFcS9g)**
**Journalists:** Broadcast-quality video (0:59) is available for download at the end of this post. Please credit: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the [script](https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/n7-mcnn/7bcc9724adf7b803/uploads/2023/06/SCRIPT-MCM-HIV-and-Testing.pdf).
Dr. Rizza explains that HIV attacks and weakens the immune system by destroying CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that protects against infections. Many people in the early stages of the disease are unaware they have it. “It can hide away in the body in a latent state for many, many years, making it very difficult to cure,” she notes.
Unawareness of one’s HIV-positive status can lead to unknowingly transmitting the virus to others through sexual contact or sharing needles. Dr. Rizza emphasizes that prevention measures include using barrier protections like condoms, dental dams, and clean needles.
Screening for HIV is crucial for early detection and preventing its spread. “I would love for more of society to get tested for HIV and connect those who are infected to care so we can provide them with long, healthy lives,” says Dr. Rizza.
### HIV can be diagnosed through blood or saliva testing. Tests include:
