The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco)  continues to offer free rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the county health department located at 10841 Little Rd. in New Port Richey. Testing is available by appointment only – call 727-619-0260 to schedule an appointment. 

Results from the rapid tests will be available in 20 minutes. No matter what the test results are, DOH-Pasco will work with clients to take steps to help them protect their health. If anyone has questions regarding HIV or hepatitis C rapid testing, they can call DOH-Pasco at 727-619-0260. 

In the U.S., for every seven people who have HIV, one person does not know it. Testing is the only way to know if you have HIV. The CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once; however, anyone at higher risk for getting HIV should get tested at least once a year. This includes:

• Male to male sexual contact
• People with more than one sexual partner
• Transgender people who have sex with men
• People who have recently had an STI
• People who use injection drugs

For information on DOH-Pasco services for HIV/AIDS, visit: http://pasco.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/infectious-disease-services/aids/index.html.

For information on HIV from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.html.

For information on hepatitis C from the CDC, visit https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hcv/index.html