WICKER PARK — On Fridays during the month of September, a Wicker Park Walgreens will be offering free HIV/AIDS tests.
The offer is part of a partnership of the nonprofit Center on Halsted health group and the Illinois Department of Public Health, according the center.
The free and confidential tests will be offered from 4-8 p.m. Friday as well as from 4-8 p.m. on Sept. 11, 18 and 25 at the Walgreens on the corner of Milwaukee and Damen avenues at 1601 N. Milwaukee Ave., according to a flier circulating in the neighborhood.
The test takes about 15 minutes and results will be offered onsite along with linkage to HIV resources like counseling.
Over an eight-year history of offering free pop-up testing at community sites and in some businesses like gyms and nightclubs, this Friday will be the first time the Center on Halsted's HIV Testing & Prevention Program will be operating in a Walgreens, according to a worker who answered the phone at the nonprofit group on Wednesday.
After September, it's likely that the testing will be available at a different neighborhood Walgreens since the program will travel, the worker said.
A Walgreens spokeswoman did not immediately respond to request for comment on Wednesday. A Center for Halsted program coordinator was not available either. According to a schedule on its website, other pop-up testing locations for free HIV testing on a walk-in basis include Cheetah Gym, at 5838 N. Broadway, Rincon Family Service and New Town Alano Club.
For more information on HIV/AIDS, call Illinois' AIDS/HIV and STI hotline at 800-243-2437.
The Chicago Dept. of Public Health also provides free HIV and STI testing at five city-run clinics where lines can be long. Those centers see patients on a first-come, first-served basis and getting there early is advised, according to the city's website.
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