Each year on June 27, we observe National HIV Testing Day to emphasize the importance of routine HIV testing and early diagnosis. Testing is the critical first step in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, and it helps individuals take control of their health while reducing the spread of HIV in our communities.

According to the most recent 2023 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 14.3% of New Yorkers reported getting tested for HIV in the past 12 months. However, testing rates vary significantly by race, age, and gender:

• Black (26%) and Hispanic (23.2%) New Yorkers have the highest rates of HIV testing.
  
• White New Yorkers have the lowest testing rate at just 7.6%.
  
• Women (15%) are more likely to get tested than men (13.5%).
  
• By age group, 25–34-year-olds had the highest testing rate (24.5%), while New Yorkers aged 45 and older were the least likely to be tested (8.4%).
  

These disparities highlight the need to promote routine, equitable access to HIV testing across all communities and age groups.

Like many areas of public health, HIV testing was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Testing rates declined in 2020 and 2021, dropping to a low of 11.9%. Encouragingly, rates are beginning to rebound; 14.3% of New Yorkers reported testing in 2023, nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Explore more data on HIV testing in New York State and New York City here.