Healthcare officials, researchers continue to push for HIV clinic in Washington, DC

In order to increase efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the nation's capital, a new study suggests that establishing a sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing program could produce positive results. In fact, the researchers predict that this initiative, which was recently featured in Clinical Infectious Diseases, could lower the number of HIV cases by approximately 15 percent over the next five years.

Since January 2009, researchers have been conducting studies and publishing reports addressing the growing spread of the virus. Healthcare officials have also been contributing to raising this awareness, and have pushed to create the voluntary program for adults, followed by treatments for those who test positive for HIV.

"The reality of HIV screening programs, even the best ones, is that many people are never reached for screening, some refuse screening or do not link to care, and many of those who are treated do not maintain viral suppression," said Kenneth A. Freedberg, physician at Massachusetts General Hospital's department of medicine.

People who have unprotected sex could be putting themselves and their partners at a higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. Individuals who are concerned about their health, but are uncomfortable with going for testing to a clinic, can benefit from purchasing online testing kits.