Groups push for HIV testing at 13

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Monday is the 20th anniversary of World Aids Day and several groups are pushing for more aggressive testing for the deadly virus. Some believe the testing should begin when a youngster turns 13. But not everyone is on board, including the head of Marion County's Health Department.

Testing for AIDS has gotten a lot easier. Swabbing the inside of the cheek or the traditional blood test can turn up results within 30 minutes. But that's not the reason the Centers for Disease Control and the American College of Physicians are pushing for earlier testing. They said there are just too many young people getting HIV from people who don't know their own status.

"They are picking up a lot of the patients at the ages of 19 and 20, but it's clear that they had contracted that infection at a much earlier age," said Dr. Virginia Caine.

But Dr. Virginia Caine believes testing all 13-year-olds for HIV is unnecessary.

"If you know the child and you feel pretty comfortable that they are not sexually active, then I don't have a problem about them not being tested," said Dr. Caine.

The data shows HIV continues to spread in the U.S. According to the CDC, more than a million people in the U.S. have the virus. But one in five of those infected are unaware they are infected. In Marion County alone there are 4,000 people living with the AIDS virus.

HIV researcher Dr. Veronica Miller said testing "should be as routine as a flu shot. It should be as routine as getting your blood pressure."

Kevin Johnson is HIV positive. He learned he had the AIDS virus in 1987. He takes a 11 medications a day and attributes his health to early tests.

"Knowledge is the power. If I didn't know as soon as I did, I don't think I'd still be here," said Johnson.

AIDS testing can by done by the health department and Planned Parenthood.