The Centers for Disease Control released results from a survey today citing an alarming trend in HIV testing for young men (ages 18 -24). The survey, conducted using a website where men go to meet other men for sex (the website was not identified in the press release), found that younger sexually active gay and bisexual men were three times less likely to have been tested for HIV in their lifetime. The results were presented at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria.

“This study emphasizes the need to improve access to testing and increase awareness of the importance of HIV testing, particularly among young men who have sex with men (MSM),” the press release stated. “A primary reason cited by those who had not been tested was that they didn’t know where to get an HIV test (38.6%).”

According to the CDC, several factors contributed to younger men failing to get tested, including not knowing where to get tested, lack of health insurance and living outside of metropolitan areas where there is less support.

Nearly one quarter of all young gay and bisexual men reported never taking an HIV test. Among older men, the percentage is far less, at just 6 percent.

Top photo: The Atlanta CDC facility (photo via cdc.gov)