mercurialworld Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 (edited) From CNN: Quote New York — Grindr, the popular LGBTQ+ dating app, is distributing free at-home HIV tests as part of a new public health initiative. The app explained in a blog post that access to HIV testing is “one of the biggest limitations in the fight against the persistent HIV epidemic.” HIV continues to affect the gay, bi and trans community more than many other groups. The test is now available to order within the app’s main menu to US-based users with a new “Free HIV Home Test” button. People will get an OraQuick kit, an FDA-approved, over-the-counter test that works by swabbing the gums and takes around 20 minutes to see results. Grindr is calling the project “TakeMeHome” and partnered with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University and Building Healthy Online Communities, a consortium of public health programs and gay dating apps. So far, the program has given away 125,000 HIV test kits, Grindr said in its blog post, and that one-third of those kits were sent to people taking a test for the first time, “showing the power and innovation that comes from bringing these partners together.” The aim is to give away 1 million kits over the next five years and Grindr hopes to expand the program to other countries. A 2019 CDC report found that fewer than 40% of people in the United States have been screened for HIV. It recommends that all people 13 to 64 be tested at least once. For those who have tested positive for HIV, the CDC recommends seeking immediate treatment with a number of medicines now available. So happy for US-based users! Edited March 22, 2023 by mercurialworld
getBusy Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 2 minutes ago, mercurialworld said: one-third of those kits were sent to people taking a test for the first time Wild. This is why sex education and access to sex health are SO important.
Badgalbriel Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 Oh yeah, actually, this is something that I always wanted to know. How do you guys get tested in the US if public health is something very scarce there? Here in Brazil, for example, you just go to any testing center you want and say that you want to get tested and, BOOM, you get tested for free for all STDs and get a result in 15 minutes all of that for free. Not only that, but you can also buy home tests at every pharmacy for like 10 dollars. How is it for you guys without easy access to health services?
Raver Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 Yes I’ve received two free test kits from them before.
Blue Monday Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Badgalbriel said: Oh yeah, actually, this is something that I always wanted to know. How do you guys get tested in the US if public health is something very scarce there? Here in Brazil, for example, you just go to any testing center you want and say that you want to get tested and, BOOM, you get tested for free for all STDs and get a result in 15 minutes all of that for free. Not only that, but you can also buy home tests at every pharmacy for like 10 dollars. How is it for you guys without easy access to health services? It varies wildly depending on if you have insurance tbh. Planned Parenthood offers free HIV testing as well as gonorrhea and chlamydia, which is where I go every three months; I started going there when I got kicked off my parents' health insurance and had to jump on the (cr*p) insurance my job at the time offered. PP are strict about enforcing the three month wait though; you couldn't get tested, and then go again two months if you had a risk of exposure. You could also go to a local clinic; the problem with the first two options is depending on where you live, wait times could be longer. Your primary doctor can also order a script for a full panel or just for HIV but depending on your insurance this could be more expensive which is what this all comes back to OT: This is actually really cool. I tried getting kits from them before but they couldn't ship them to my area apparently. Edited March 22, 2023 by Blue Monday
Jaguarqueef Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 25 minutes ago, Badgalbriel said: Oh yeah, actually, this is something that I always wanted to know. How do you guys get tested in the US if public health is something very scarce there? Here in Brazil, for example, you just go to any testing center you want and say that you want to get tested and, BOOM, you get tested for free for all STDs and get a result in 15 minutes all of that for free. Not only that, but you can also buy home tests at every pharmacy for like 10 dollars. How is it for you guys without easy access to health services? I go to non profit gay health clinics in the city, say I don’t have insurance, and usually a clinic will at least give me the basic health screening (HIV, Gonnorhea, Chymidia). I also live in a major city. A lot of STIs run rampant in rural communities and among heterosexuals here; I believe the %age of heterosexuals w/ HIV surpassed %age of gays not too long.
nadiamendell Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 41 minutes ago, getBusy said: Wild. This is why sex education and access to sex health are SO important. THIS. There's still a large stigma attached to anything regarding sexual health and so many people are embarrassed to ask their healthcare providers about it. My current doctor is the FIRST doctor I've ever had that ever asked if I wanted to get tested for STDs. I was SO relieved to hear him ask that, because I was too scared to bring it up at the time. He then proceeded to ask if I had ever heard of PrEP, and that's when I knew he knew I was a geyy.
Specter Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 This is actually great. More people should get on the app, get a kit, and that swiftly uninstall it.
Likingstars Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 Quote and that one-third of those kits were sent to people taking a test for the first time The hell i thought the us is supposed to be better than this.
fountain Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 Very slay! We have this here in the UK and it’s great. You get sent discreet, free kits that you can use at home and then all you have to do is post it back to their lab for them to test (also all free) and they text you with your result. Everybody should be using these, especially those with multiple partners.
Uncatena Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, Biggie said: Isn't it tested through blood? HIV can be tested through saliva because antibodies, which means that very recent infections might not show up. But this is the case with blood tests as well, though the waiting period between infection and detection is a bit shorter. Edited March 22, 2023 by ChapelHooker
shookspeare Posted March 22, 2023 Posted March 22, 2023 that messy 1/3 statistic is why I never go through with hookups omg
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