HIV tests recommended for all Americans aged 15-64

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - New federal guidelines suggest that all Americans aged 15 to 64 should get an HIV test at least once.

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force proposed that testing should not be limited to people considered to be at high risk.

Raul Matta is a program director at CEPA, a clinic sponsored by the Holyoke Health Center. He told 22News that it can be hard to get people to take an HIV test.

“It’s difficult, because of the cost of testing and everything else to say that everyone should get tested or it should be free, but for anybody who can or has access to it it’s definitely something that we would encourage,” Matta said.

He told 22News agrees with the recommendation that testing for the AIDS virus should become a routine check.

“We try to talk about it and teach about to make it seem like it’s a normal thing and not a big deal. It’s just something that you should be doing in your life like you would go to get your blood test to see if what your cholesterol is.”

An estimated 1.2 million Americans are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.