HIV and Hepatitis C Prevention and Treatment Resources
Accessing HIV Testing
Agencies funded by the state Communicable Disease (CD) Branch to perform HIV testing are required to register with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Get Tested website (searchable by zip code) to link people seeking testing services to fixed site HIV and STD testing facilities. All North Carolina local health departments also provide opt-out HIV testing through their STD testing and counseling programs.
Accessing Hepatitis C Testing
Many agencies funded by the CD Branch for HIV and STD testing are also funded for hepatitis C (HCV) testing. Please check which prevention agencies listed also provide HCV testing. Some local health department STD testing and counseling programs also offer HCV testing to individuals at high risk for HCV infection; please contact your local health department for information about services or referrals.
Testing in North Carolina and Results Counseling
North Carolina offers confidential HIV testing through many different venues and organizations. HIV test sites include local health departments, community-based organizations, public hospitals, private providers and hospitals and federally qualified health centers. All positive HIV tests are reportable by law to the CD Branch through testing laboratories and local health departments. HIV testing in clinical sites should be “opt-out” (meaning patients ask not to receive an HIV test), and treated as part of the regular series of tests offered. Pre-test counseling is not required by North Carolina law for people receiving HIV tests. Sites that offer HIV testing in clinical sites should include HIV testing as a part of the general consent forms developed by clinical sites.
Note: anonymous HIV testing is not allowed in North Carolina as all HIV testing is confidential.
Hepatitis C (HCV) testing is also offered in various sites. Acute HCV and chronic HCV are reportable.
All agencies testing for HIV, STDs or HCV must be prepared to offer post-test counseling along with plans to refer patients who have tested positive to follow-up care and/or treatment. North Carolina and CDC’s shared goal is for providers to ensure that all people keep an initial care appointment within 30 days of an initial positive HIV test result.
Care Resources