Free HIV screenings will be offered on Thursday by the Department of Health, as part of HIV Testing Day.The confidential testing will be available from 8.30am to 3.30pm at the Hamilton Health Centre on Victoria Street.Public health nurse Kim Ball stressed that testing was crucial, since people can carry the virus without feeling sick.“If you have HIV, getting medical care early and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others,” she said.All adults are advised to get tested at least once, and anyone who may be at risk of infection should get an HIV test at least once a year, she said.Pharmacies have been encouraged to make over-the-counter screening kits available for those aged 17 and older.The test can be carried out privately by swiping the gums. Anyone potentially exposed to HIV should test three months after the event.