CDC Content Warning
This website and accompanying blogs may contain content only suitable for adults.
Since HIV infection is spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, prevention messages and programs may address these topics. HIV prevention materials funded by CDC must be approved by local program review panels. However, some viewers may consider the materials controversial.
Knowing if you are infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is the first step to getting medical care and other needed services.
Siouxland Community Health Center provides HIV counseling and testing in English and Spanish. All services are offered free of charge. Testing is available Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome during this time – you do not need an appointment to see one of the HIV counselors. Testing is also available from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. by appointment. Please call 712-252-2477 to make your appointment.
If you are looking for testing outside of the Health Center, please refer to the Outreach calendar. Anyone can be tested at any of the events on the calendar.
Who should be tested? Testing and counseling for early diagnosis of HIV infection are especially recommended for the following people:
- People who have had sexually transmitted diseases
- Injecting drug users and their spouses, sex partners and needle-sharing partners (Free Hepatitis C testing also available)
- Men who have sex with other men
- A female sexual partner of a man who has sex with other men
- A sexual partner of anyone who is HIV positive
- Anyone who identifies as Black or Hispanic
- Anyone who received blood/blood products prior to 1992. (Free Hepatitis C testing also available)
HIV Testing at SCHC has three main components:
The first is the pre-test counseling session. SCHC’s counselor addresses emotional needs and concerns, and provides an overview of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention.
The second part is the Clearview Complete Rapid HIV-1/2 test. The Clearview Complete HIV ½ Antibody Test is used to test a drop of your blood for HIV antibodies. One drop of blood is collected by gently pricking your finger with a lancet. The test is then run for 15 minutes to determine if antibodies are detected.
The third part of is the post-test results pick-up and counseling. Results are available within 15 minutes of taking the test. The SCHC counselor will respond to your needs and concerns, discuss risk reduction strategies, and arrange for confirmatory testing, as needed.
If you have any additional questions, you can contact the HIV department at Siouxland Community Health Center by phone at 712-252-2477.
Outside of Iowa, you can call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Hotline. They can answer any questions you might have about HIV and AIDS and direct you to a nearby test site. They are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636) TTY: 1-888-232-6348 (24/7)
Siouxland Community Health Center offers a full continuum of HIV services for individuals who are HIV positive and are seeking compassionate and professional HIV/AIDS services from the people who have been fighting the disease since its earliest days. Services are offered to those in the tri-state region of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Medical Services
We know that managing a chronic disease can be tough. Siouxland Community Health Center’s HIV medical care team includes two medical doctors and a physician’s assistant. All three providers are certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. The HIV department also includes nurses, case managers, prevention specialists and a benefit specialist. Our goal is to partner with you to achieve and maintain good health. Services offered include, but are not limited to:
- Primary care and HIV specialty care including labs, immunizations, physical exams and treatment for patient co-infected with Hepatitis C
- Medical case management
- Medication adherence monitoring and management
- A full staff of social workers
- An in-house pharmacy with pharmacists experienced with HIV drug regimens
- A full dental staff trained and experienced in working with HIV positive clients
- In-house interpreters in numerous languages including Spanish, Oromo, Amharic, French and Vietnamese
- Assistance with transportation to and from your appointments
- In-house HIV support group facilitated by a certified counselor who has more than 20 years of experience with HIV support
- Emergency financial assistance for housing and utilities
To make an appointment or speak to one of our team members confidently and confidentially, call 712-252-2477.
Siouxland Community Health Center’s prevention services are designed to provide you with information and materials you can use to reduce or eliminate your risk for acquiring HIV.
The Gay Men’s Health Committee, an ad hoc committee of the Iowa Department of Public Health‘s Community Planning Group; has compiled a directory for Gay & Bi-Sexual Men living in Iowa to use when looking for the health resources* they may need.
www.iowaguys.wix.com/resources
*These resources are not screened, and therefore, no guarantees can be offered concerning the quality of services; however the hope is that these resources are much more likely to be culturally competent in working with gay and bi men in Iowa.