Planned Parenthood of Indiana to Begin Half-Price HIV Testing in Bloomington

(Indianapolis) – Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) will begin offering half-price HIV testing at its Bloomington health center on August 1. The rapid-results saliva tests will cost $12.50, instead of the usual $25.

The discounted tests are made possible thanks to the Jack Hopkins Social Services Program which has given PPIN a $4,200 grant. Since 1993, the Bloomington Common Council and the city’s mayor, through the Jack Hopkins Social Services Program, have provided funding to programs and organizations that make a difference in the lives of Bloomington residents in need. The half-price tests are available to all Monroe County residents and will continue until December.

All of PPIN’s family planning centers, including the Bloomington health center, now provide HIV rapid testing, as well as confirmatory blood testing. All testing will be done in a confidential setting, and all PPIN staff members are trained in privacy policies.

By the end of 2010, according to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), 9,837 people were living with HIV/AIDS in Indiana, up from 9,646 by the end of 2009. ISDH also reports that 514 Hoosiers were newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2010; the vast majority of those newly diagnosed were male.

“We performed 437 HIV tests in our Bloomington health center last year,” said PPIN President and CEO Betty Cockrum. “We’re happy that we’re able to provide affordable, preventive health care, such as this, and hope that many men and women take advantage of this opportunity for reduced-price testing.”

To make an appointment for the half-price testing, patients can call 1-812-336-0219 to reach the Bloomington health center. The center is located at 421 South College Avenue.