August 31, 2026
Read time: ~3 minutes.
A woman in her early 60s goes in for a routine checkup. She hasn’t thought about her HIV risk in decades, she isn’t in a “high-risk group,” and no one has ever offered her a test. That’s a common story and exactly what National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, observed every September 18th, is working to change.
More than half of people with diagnosed HIV in the United States are age 50 or older, according to the CDC. However, there is still a gap in awareness for the general population. Too many older adults still aren’t getting tested, leading to real consequences for delayed treatment and subsequent quality of life.
What National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day Represents
The AIDS Institute established NHAAD in 2008 to spotlight the needs of long-term survivors and people diagnosed with HIV later in life. Nearly 16% of new HIV diagnoses in 2023 occurred in adults over 50 years of age. This observance isn’t just about prevalence, however, but also an appreciation that HIV-related care looks different for older patients. Providers may have to manage additional complications such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive changes, or medication interactions, in addition to HIV.
The Testing Gap Among Older Adults
Age doesn’t necessarily lower HIV risk but is associated with lower odds of getting tested. AIDSVu data shows only 19% of adults 65 and older had been tested for HIV as of 2022, one of the lowest testing rates of any age group. Older adults are also more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis, in part because providers and patients alike may not consider HIV evaluation a routine part of care once someone’s past their 40s or 50s.
Late diagnosis means less time for effective treatment before the virus does lasting damage and missed opportunities to prevent transmission. Closing this gap starts with making testing routine, not reactive, at every age.
Why Rapid HIV Testing Supports Better Outcomes
Rapid, accurate testing removes some of the biggest barriers to diagnosis, including follow-up visits and the anxiety of not knowing. A rapid chromatographic immunoassay can detect HIV antigens and/or antibodies directly from a whole blood, serum, or plasma, giving clinicians a result in minutes instead of days. For providers who work with aging populations, whether in a primary care setting, a senior health program, or a community screening event, that speed can be the difference between getting evaluated and someone walking away.
Healgen’s HIV Rapid Test Line
Healgen’s HIV 1/2 antibody and antigen/antibody combo tests are built for exactly this kind of point-of-care screening. The lateral-flow immunoassays qualitatively detect HIV p24 antigen and/or antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgA) to HIV-1, HIV-2, and Subtype O in whole blood, serum, or plasma, with results in 10 to 15 minutes. Independent evaluations show sensitivity and specificity above 99%, and the cassette formats carry CE-IVDD clearance with a 24-month shelf life from the date of manufacture.
For clinics, laboratories, and health programs serving older patients, a test that’s fast, reliable, and simple to administer supports the kind of routine screening that National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is asking providers to prioritize.
Making Testing Routine, at Every Age
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is a good start to asking a simple question: is HIV testing routine care for the older adults in practice, or is it still treated as an exception? Building age-inclusive testing protocols, training staff to offer testing without assumptions about risk, and equipping care teams with fast, accurate point-of-care tools are all steps in the right direction.
Healgen’s HIV rapid tests are not available for sale in the United States but are available in the EU and countries outside the U.S. International distributors and laboratories can contact Healgen for ordering information and regulatory documentation.
This article is for general educational and awareness purposes and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Anyone concerned about their HIV status should speak with a qualified healthcare provider.