In 2019, 245 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in Orange County. The HIV epidemic remains, despite a pandemic changing the way the country operates.
In response to the need for HIV testing and complying with CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, Radiant Health Centers is now offering free, drive-up HIV testing to minimize physical interaction and still provide this vital service to the Orange County community.
Radiant Health Centers, a nonprofit specializing in LGBTQ+ specialized medical care and comprehensive social services to Orange County, has begun offering free drive-up rapid HIV testing to the Orange County community. The program is by-appointment-only and offers a complete HIV testing experience, including pre-appointment consultation and PrEP or PEP prescriptions, based on test results.
The drive-up testing process includes counseling and education over the phone before the appointment to minimize physical interaction with testing staff while also providing clients with helpful information to facilitate a supportive experience. All appointments are private and confidential. Clients arrive at Radiant Health Centers’ satellite location in Santa Ana, RADAR, for their scheduled appointment where the testing counselor administers the test while the client remains safely in their vehicle. Results are available in a minute and treatment or prescriptions are made available that same day.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been constantly reimagining how we provide our programs and services,” said Phil Yaeger, CEO of Radiant Health Centers. “One of the services where we see the highest demand is our HIV and STI testing and treatment. Early during the pandemic, we deployed at-home HIV testing kits. Our drive-up HIV testing program offers the same level of confidentiality and compassion with more in-person interaction. Everything we do complies with CDC guidelines and we’re proud to continue our outreach to the community – especially our more vulnerable populations – safely and healthily.”
Learn more about Radiant Health Centers’ testing services at radianthealthcenters.org/services/testing-services.
