** This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences**
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing is available to you at Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health Department. The test is done in a private clinic room. At your testing appointment, we will discuss your risks for becoming infected with HIV and we will work with you to come up with your own personalized HIV prevention plan. After the test, we will set up another appointment with you so that you can come in for your results.
There are various ways of testing for HIV. You can be tested with an oral test or a blood test. In the oral test (Orasure), a small cotton pad is placed between your lower teeth and your cheek for three minutes. The pad picks up some cells from your mouth. This is a painless process. Or you can opt to have a blood test. In this test, blood is taken from your arm for testing. Both of these tests are then sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health State lab for processing. It takes about a week for us to get your results back from the lab.
Our HIV testing is completely anonymous and/or confidential. Your test record and results are protected by Bi-County Health and State law. Another person cannot see your test record or result, without written permission from you.
We offer free partner notification services to anyone who tests positive for HIV. With the HIV positive person's permission, we can help contact all sex and /or needle-sharing partners to let them know that they may have been exposed to HIV.
How to obtain services:
Locations:
8160 Express Drive, Marion OR 403 East Park St., Benton
Eligibility:
Anyone 13 years of age or older who wants a test may come to us for services.
We recommend testing for:
- Men who have unprotected sex with other men (MSM).
- Anyone who injects drugs and shares needles(IDU).
- Sexual or needle-sharing exposure to an HIV infected person.
- Sex partners of IDU or bisexual men.
- Persons who exchange sex for drugs or money.
- High-Risk Heterosexuals (HRH).
Cost:
FREE OF CHARGE
How do I get services?
Call the number or email the address below.
Hours:
By appointment
Contact:
Marion Office: (618) 993-8111
Carrie Eldridge, ext: 208
Debbie Morgan, ext: 218
Benton Office: (618) 439-0951
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information on HIV/AIDS, to locate other HIV testing sites, or if you are HIV positive and are seeking medical services:
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - HIV/AIDS Section
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - HIV/AIDS
Illinois HIV Care Connect - To locate medical services for individuals living with HIV
To help reduce HIV disparity, the IDPH Center for Minority Health Services launched the HIV/AIDS Testing Center Locator initiative, Text 2 Survive. Using a mobile phone, any Illinoisan can send a text with the message "IL" plus their 5-digit zip code to "36363" to receive a text message in English for the nearest HIV/AIDS testing center contact information. For Spanish, text "centro" plus their 5-digit zip code to the same number. This information will arrive through an instant confidential text message back to their phone. To help spread the benefits of being tested, that person can then send their friends a text message urging them to be tested as well.
