OCALA—The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is offering free rapid HIV tests at three Marion County locations on Friday, June 26, in observance of National HIV Testing Day.

Free rapid HIV testing will be available:

7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walgreens Pharmacy, 807 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ramah Missionary Baptist Church, 10545 SE 58th Ave., Belleview

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Florida Department of Health in Marion County Ocala location, 1801 SE 32nd Ave., Ocala

The rapid HIV test provides results in 15 minutes from a finger-stick blood sample.

“More than 2,600 AIDS cases were diagnosed in Florida last year,” said Erin Hess, Florida Department of Health in Marion County health officer. “Taking the test will help people learn their HIV status, seek treatment and live longer, healthier lives.”

Traditional HIV testing is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Department’s Ocala facility for free. Results from these tests typically are available in about two weeks.

The rapid HIV test is administered as part of a complete sexually transmitted disease screening Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Department’s Ocala location. Clients are seen on a sliding fee scale for complete STD screening.

National HIV Testing Day is June 27, an annual campaign to encourage people of all ages to “Take the Test, Take Control.” An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and one in seven people who have HIV don’t know it.

For more information, call Leaneze Hawkins, health services representative, at 352-629-0137, ext. 2061.

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The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit Marion.FloridaHealth.gov.