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One in four Americans living with HIV/AIDS does not know that he or she is infected with the virus that causes AIDS. In observance of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is encouraging Oklahomans to get tested for HIV.

National HIV Testing Day was created in 1995 by The National Association of People with AIDS to promote the benefits of early detection of HIV infection. This year's theme is ''Take Control of your Health and your Life - Get Tested for HIV''.

''Knowing one's HIV status can be the key to changing behavior,'' said Jan Fox, MPH, RN, and chief of the OSDH HIV/STD Service. ''Studies have shown that once someone has tested and learned of their status, he or she is more likely to use effective prevention tools and techniques to protect themselves from HIV infection or infecting partners.''

As of Dec. 31, 2006, there were approximately 4,286 people living with HIV/AIDS in Oklahoma. HIV is a preventable disease if a combination of early testing, care and prevention is applied. The OSDH is using the entire month of June to join in promoting organizations and their efforts to offer confidential testing to the public at various locations throughout the state. Some of the events planned include the following:

June 20-22 is OKC Pride Weekend. The AIDS Care Fund in collaboration with various community-based organizations including Red Rock, Guiding Right, Inc., Regional AIDS Inter-Community Network (R.A.I.N.), The Native American AIDS Coalition, Planned Parenthood, The Latino Community Development Agency, Infectious Disease Institute (IDI) and the OSDH will be offering free and confidential onsite testing. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 20-22, HIV testing will be offered in the Angles parking lot, 2117 N.W. 39th Street, Oklahoma City, and at Memorial Park, NW 36th Street and N. Classen Boulevard.

For additional information, contact Sunshine Schillings of the AIDS Care Fund at (405) 408-4013.

Red Rock North, 2240 NW 39, Oklahoma City, will provide free and confidential HIV testing on June 27. Contact Mike Maus at (405) 524-6500 for details.

Guiding Right, Inc. (G.R.I.) is a community organization whose focus is specifically on the African-American population living and/or affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic. They have several events planned in recognition of National HIV Testing Day:

- Saturday, June 21st - counseling, testing and outreach in conjunction with Pride festivities will be offered at the Bora Bora Club located at 2415 N. Walker, Oklahoma City, from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Thursday, June 26th - counseling, testing and outreach at the Grenadier Night Club, 4502 N.E. 23rd, Street, Oklahoma City, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Friday, June 27th - counseling, testing and outreach at the carwash at N.E. 23rd and Martin Luther King from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, G.R.I. will be at the carwash at 301 Wilshire Blvd, Oklahoma City, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. For further information contact Nina Johnson, (405) 733-0771.

Regional AIDS Inter-Community Network (R.A.I.N.), 600 NW 23rd Suite 101, Oklahoma City, has two events planned for the month:

- June 27th - hosting their second annual Ice Cream Social to encourage education and testing.
- Additionally, on June 27-29, participate in a softball tournament sponsored by New York Life. Details of the events will be available on their Web site at http://www.rainoklahoma.org/ or contact Julie Lovegrove, director at (405) 232-2437.

Health, Outreach, Prevention, Education, Inc. (H.O.P.E.) will be participating in Tulsa's Pride festivities including the parade and festival on June 7th and June 14th. Information on HIV prevention, testing and care will be provided for the public. On Friday, June 27th, H.O.P.E. will be providing free rapid HIV tests in the clinic, 3540 E. 31st Street in Tulsa from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Saturday, June 28th, H.O.P.E. will be at Owen Park, 560 N. Maybelle Avenue, in Tulsa giving out information on HIV testing to the community. The picnic will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For additional information, contact Kate Neary-Pounds at (918) 749-8378.

For more information about National HIV Testing Day, visit this Web site: http://www.napwa.org/public/programs/nhtd.php