Washington, DC-based DMV hosts free STD testing event

The next time Washington, DC residents go to the Penn Branch DMV to renew their license, they will see a new available service - free HIV screenings. Courtesy of a $250,000 grant, health officials were able to launch the preventative program, according to NECN.com.

Individuals who take advantage of this opportunity will be tested for the sexually transmitted disease (STD) and receive their results within 20 minutes.

Angela Wood, a staff member at the Family and Medical Counseling Services, told the news source that "there is still a lot of fear and a lot of stigma and I think this project really is attempting to normalize testing."

By launching similar initiatives, health officials are contributing to lowering the number of individuals who are going undiagnosed, and helping slow the spread of this STD. In 2006, an estimated 1.1 million Americans had either diagnosed or undiagnosed cases of HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People who have unprotected sex could be putting themselves and their partners at a higher risk of contracting an STD. Individuals who are concerned about their sexual health, but are uncomfortable with going for testing to a center, can benefit from purchasing online testing services.