Just about 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, but nearly a quarter-million of them don’t know it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Today is National HIV Testing Day, coordinated by the National Association of People with AIDS. The awareness day aims to encourage people to get tested for the virus. Many people who are infected do not know until HIV develops into AIDS, which can take up to 10 years.

Carroll County residents can get tested for free at the Carroll County Health Department, 290 South Center St. in Westminster. Confidential and anonymous counseling/testing is available for free Mondays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Appointments not necessary.

For more information about National HIV Testing Day, head to hivtest.org.