WASHINGTON -- Could D.C. youth soon be able to find out their HIV status via text message?

Mayor Adrian Fenty alluded to that Thursday morning on News4's "Connecting With The Mayor" segment.

"We're going to be trying to get up to 50,000 youth tested. We're even going to be using cell phones to try and do some text messaging with youth so they can find out their status right through the cell phone," Fenty said in response to a viewer's concerns about HIV/AIDS prevention.

However, the mayor's office later clarified the mayor's statement, saying Fenty meant only that the Department of Health will be sending out text messages to remind people to check their HIV status.

Text messaging will not be used to send out results, the mayor's office said.

Fenty also said Thursday morning that more needle exchange programs will be funded with local money. He said there will be more announcements in coming months.

Washington has the highest AIDS rate among major cities across the country, according to a report released last fall by city officials.

There are roughly 128 cases of AIDS per 100,000 city residents, far surpassing the national average of 14 cases per 100,000 people, according to the study by the city's HIV/AIDS Administration and George Washington University.

In December, Congress lifted a nine-year ban on using city money for needle exchange programs in the District.