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The Shelby County Health Department is continuing to offer the public more avenues for HIV testing amid local infection rates that are among the nation’s highest.

Friday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day, and the department will host an event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at its 814 Jefferson Ave. headquarters.

Shelby County makes at-home HIV testing available to all residents

“Shelby County has the second highest HIV infection rate among metropolitan areas in the United States, second only to the Miami metro area,” said Dr. Michelle Taylor, director and health officer for the Shelby County Health Department.

It will include free, confidential HIV testing in the sexual-health clinic and free HIV-testing kits for attendees to take home as well as health information, food trucks, music and giveaways. 

And on Saturday, June 28, the department will host a community-care fair at its headquarters 10 a.m.-2 p.m. featuring a variety of health resources.

They include HIV testing and free enrollment to receive PrEP, a pre-exposure medication effective at preventing HIV, and PEP, an emergency medicine taken after potential exposure to the virus. 

“Increased HIV testing is the key to addressing these high HIV incidence rates,” Taylor said. “Testing is the first step to caring for yourself, whether the results are positive or negative.” 

Preliminary data from the Tennessee Department of Health indicates the infection rate for Shelby County teens aged 15 to 19 rose by about 50% from 2022 to 2023.

Local health experts say limited sex education, stigma, barriers to treatment, medication noncompliance and even dating apps are all contributing to the uptick. 

The health department is also partnering with Memphis-Shelby County Schools. In January, it announced it would provide the district’s middle and high schools students with screenings, treatment, preventative care and education. 

“The impact of HIV and STIs on Shelby County’s young people is significant, and the burden of potential long-term health consequences is compounded by stigma and a lack of access to health care resources, specifically affordable and accessible sexual-health services,” Taylor said. 

In February, the Shelby County Health Department pushed for local hospitals to adopt an “opt-out” policy for HIV testing in emergency departments. It would make an HIV test part of medical visits unless the patient declines.

Health Department pushes for HIV testing in hospital ERs

And in April, the health department launched a pilot program that allows teens and adults with a Shelby County address to order free HIV test kits through an online portal, 901HIVtesting.com.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend everyone aged 13-64 be tested at least once for HIV. The CDC recommends annual screening for those with risk factors, which include having unprotected sex, sharing needles and syringes, and having another type of sexually transmitted infection. 

Syphilis infections are also on the rise in Shelby County, particularly among people ages 14-35. 

And Taylor said the success of the HIV home-test kit program has prompted the health department to begin offering home test kits for syphilis. 

The Shelby County Health Department’s sexual-health program provides free testing for STIs on a walk-in basis every weekday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at its headquarters.