HIV/AIDS Services

HIV Tests  

HIV tests (for the virus that causes AIDS) are available to anyone. Two kinds of testing are available: anonymous and confidential.  Privacy is maintained with both types of testing. It is your responsibility to come back for test results regardless of the type of testing you choose.

1. Anonymous testing: You do not give your name. It is essential that you come back to receive your test results since the health department staff have no way of contacting you.
   Fee:  $20*
2. Confidential testing: You provide your name. This allows the health department staff to follow-up with you, if necessary.
   Fee:  $20*

*Test fees are based on ability to pay, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.  Se habla español.

Locations offering HIV testing: 

• Health In Motion (mobile medical unit)
• North Port Health Center
• William L. Little Health & Human Services Center
  (Ringling Blvd, Sarasota)

For more information on confidential HIV tests:

• Sarasota: 941-861-2873

Case Managers - Your Link to Services 

We offer HIV testing, education, case management, and medical and pharmacy services for eligible individuals.

Case managers link eligible clients with health care, psychosocial care, and other services. This helps ensure you are able to get good quality health care services when you need them. This includes continually collecting and reviewing information about your personal situation such as the needs of key family members and your personal support systems.

Case management activities include:

• Determining your Eligibility for Ryan White (Title II) Services, AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), housing assistance and more.
• Evaluating your needs and personal support systems
• Developing and starting a plan to help ensure you get the services you may need. This includes periodic review of the plan to make sure agreed upon goals are being met.

To reach a case manager:

• Sarasota: 941-861-2844
• North Port: 941-861-3385

Medical and Pharmacy Services 

HIV/AIDS Education 

HIV/AIDS Prevention Education

DOH-Sarasota offers HIV/AIDS prevention education and risk reduction:

• provides condoms and educational materials
• technical assistance to community-based organizations
• maintains a resource directory of HIV/AIDS services in Sarasota County
• works with organizations to develop age-appropriate HIV/AIDS education course curricula
• provides training through the Office of Epidemiology and Disease Intervention Services

HIV/AIDS Education for Providers

DOH-Sarasota offers courses designed to meet the requirements of health professionals and others who may come in contact with HIV.

Surveillance 

The HIV/AIDS surveillance program promotes the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, evaluation, and dissemination of epidemiologic data.  These data are used to plan, implement, and evaluate HIV/AIDS programs and interventions.  Surveillance in Florida identifies HIV-related conditions at various points along the spectrum of the disease from reporting of HIV infection in otherwise asymptomatic people, to death certificate review for HIV/AIDS-related mortality.

Reportable HIV-related conditions

Florida state law requires health care providers to report to the DOH-Sarasota HIV/AIDS Surveillance Office any patient diagnosed with any of the following conditions:

• Western Blot positive or qualitative PCR positive tests done after July 1, 1997
• Any CD4 tests with values below 200 or 14%
• Any of the 26 AIDS-defining opportunistic infections defined by the CDC

For more information on HIV/AIDS Surveillance: 

• 941-861-2873

Additional Resources 

• National AIDS Hotline:  1-800-342-2437
• Florida AIDS Hotline: 1-800-352-2437
  Spanish - 1-800-545-7432
  Haitian Creole - 1-800-243-7101
  TDD - 1-888-503-7118

HIV/AIDS - Florida Department of Health

General information, ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program), and more.

Related links:

• Medicaid
• Ryan White CARE Act
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - AIDS