Georgia leads the nation in new HIV cases, making access to affordable testing crucial in combating the epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that every adult get tested at least once in their lifetime, but only about a third of Americans follow this advice, according to Patrick Sullivan, a professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. Fortunately, Atlanta offers many convenient and affordable ways to get tested.
1. At Home
Together Take Me Home mails two free HIV testing kits directly to your home in discreet packaging. The test uses an oral swab, eliminating the need for a blood draw. The program has reached nearly 750,000 people but will end in September due to a lack of staff to oversee it.
2. At the Club
AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s mobile testing units frequently visit nightclubs and community fairs around Atlanta, making testing accessible and convenient.
3. At the “Adult Store”
Positive Impact Health Centers conduct tests at Starship Enterprises locations in Stone Mountain, Atlanta, and Snellville on specific Sundays each month. Testing is offered from 4 to 7 p.m.
4. On the Bus
SisterLove’s Healthy Love bus, driven by Will Settle, provides free HIV testing and has logged over 10,000 miles, helping more than 2,000 people. The bus will be at SisterLove’s community health fair from 1 to 7 p.m. on July 19 at 3699 Bakers Ferry Rd.
5. At the Drugstore
You can purchase an HIV test at many retail pharmacies, like CVS, for about $46. Tests can also be delivered through services like DoorDash and UberEats, with no prescription needed.
6. At the Thrift Store
The Out of the Closet thrift store at Ansley Mall offers a “destigmatizing space” for free HIV testing and access to community pharmacy services. Ninety-six cents of every dollar spent at the store goes directly into local HIV services.
7. At Church
Local churches have become important testing sites. Many host free testing events, thanks to efforts like those by the Rev. Dr. Monte Norwood of Bible Way Ministries in Atlanta’s Thomasville Heights neighborhood.
8. Schedule Online
Many local clinics, such as Empowerment Resource Center and SisterLove, offer online signups for free testing.
9. Call Ahead
Other clinics provide testing services that can be booked by phone, including AID Atlanta, Positive Impact Health Centers in Duluth and Decatur, and Someone Cares in Marietta.
10. Local Public Health Departments
County health departments offer free or low-cost HIV testing at their clinics. DeKalb Public Health provides free testing at its health centers and offers free home testing kits for pickup. Fulton County Board of Health provides free or low-cost testing based on income. Clayton County Health Department offers free testing at its clinic and free home tests. Cobb and Douglas Public Health provides free rapid testing at four locations, with home testing kits available at the Marietta location and via an online portal. GNR Public Health, covering Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties, offers in-person and at-home rapid testing.
