By Gabrielle Martin, Staff Reporter.
Free HIV testing will be available to students on Thursday, Dec. 4 from 1-3 p.m. in the Counseling Office located at D-102. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. All results and information are completely confidential. Tom Brubaker, who works with Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, runs the testing and recommends that students who are sexually active should be tested at least once per year.
“One of the reasons we test at Delta,” says Brubaker, “is that in the U.S. 50% of new HIV infections in our country are young people under the age of 25.”
Before the appointment, students will fill out a pre-counseling survey. During an appointment, which usually lasts 10-15 minutes, students will do an Orasure test in which they swab their own mouth. Brubaker says that the results are 99% accurate and are given in person the next time that he comes to the college.
The majority of the appointment is made up of Brubaker giving out information and counseling students on how to reduce their risk of contracting HIV according to the survey that they filled out. Safer sex items such as condoms and lubricants are also available for students free of charge.
Starting Jan. 22, Brubaker will be back at Delta every other Thursday from 1-3 p.m. in D-102 to offer free HIV testing. Brubaker says that he will likely have test results from students who are tested on Dec. 4 before Jan. 22. If they would like to see their results before that time, they can contact him.
To make an appointment or for more information, contact Tom Brubaker at tbrubaker@sacredheartcenter.com or call him at 989-776-6000 (ext. 7514).