New York Daily News Examines 'Sexual History License' That Provides STI Testing History

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 05 Aug 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The New York Daily News on Friday examined the New York City-based STFree Certifications' "sexual history license," which allows people to provide their testing history for sexually transmitted infections to potential partners. The service aims to reduce the spread of STIs, including HIV/AIDS, the Daily News reports.

According to the Daily News, people can register to become a card holder online or through an STFree van that travels around New York City. Program subscribers must provide a detailed sexual health profile and be tested for STIs. To access the testing history of an STFree cardholder, partners are given a phone number and PIN provided only to the STFree member. More than 15,000 people nationwide have signed up for the service, which was launched in 2004 and costs $19.99, the Daily News reports.

Eli Dancy, founder of STFree Certifications, said he because he saw "a lot of irresponsibility" and wanted to raise awareness about STIs. There "are incredibly high HIV and [STI] rates" in the region, Dancy said, adding, "This card opens up the conversation for people to talk about it." According to government statistics, nearly one-third of city residents with multiple sex partners regularly have sex without condoms. In addition, more than 100,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in the city, the Daily News reports. "Our goal is to make it easy for people to get this done," Dancy said. He added, "We have to fix this [HIV/AIDS] epidemic. With this, we can start" (Millat, New York Daily News, 8/1).

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