Sustaining HIV prevention: HIV testing in health care settings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued revised HIV testing recommendations, including a recommendation for routine, voluntary screening for all persons aged 13 years to 64 years in health care settings. Screening is not based on risk, and prevention counseling in conjunction with HIV testing in health care settings is not required. The revisions were motivated in part by concerns regarding the substantial undiagnosed fraction of prevalent HIV infections in the United States and evidence awareness of HIV infection leads to substantial reductions in high-risk sexual behavior. It is hoped that implementation of these recommendations, which will require coordination and education initiatives, will increase identification of the large number of HIV-infected individuals unaware of their infection status and facilitate their linkage to care. This article summarizes a presentation on HIV prevention and HIV testing in health care settings made by Kevin A. Fenton, MD, PhD, at the 10th Annual Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Clinical Update in June 2007 in Phoenix, AZ.