B can remain asymptomatic for years and, left undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to serious complications. Additionally, individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at risk for chronic liver disease or other HCV-related chronic diseases decades after infection. (6) Stigma, culture, language, lack of education, lack of insurance, limited time, cost and resources in medical settings, and an inaccurate perception of risk among communities and providers all contribute to insufficient rates of screening for HIV/AIDS and STIs. (7) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recognize screening as an effective public health tool that allows providers to administer treatment before symptoms develop and implement interventions that will reduce the likelihood of HIV/AIDS and STI transmission and reduce the development of adverse outcomes. (8) The CDC recommends that voluntary screening for HIV/AIDS be integrated into routine clinical care while preserving patient confidentiality and the right of the patient to decline testing and screening. (9) The CDC also recommends that all unvaccinated, uninfected persons being evaluated for a STI should receive hepatitis B vaccination. Furthermore, anti-HCV testing is recommended for routine screening of asymptomatic persons based on their risk for infection or based on a recognized exposure. (10) Inaccurate perceptions of risk among health care providers and patients, misdiagnosis, ageism, generational mind-sets, and biological factors have contributed to increased rates in transmission and late detection of HIV/AIDS and STIs over the past decade. (11) Health equity and disparities remain a significant public health challenge, with the burden of HIV/AIDS and STIs falling disproportionately on different populations. (12) Although African-Americans account for about 13 percent of the United States population, they account for nearly half of all HIV/AIDS cases and infections and have higher instances of mortality and