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Routine HIV/AIDS Testing

Welcome: The Center for Disease Control’s recommendations urge providers to perform HIV testing as a routine part of patient care.  This site is designed for general internists and clinician educators to facilitate expanded HIV testing in primary care settings.  Key points of the CDC’s guidelines are summarized below with links to resources to aid physicians in implementation. 

Resources listed in this toolkit are categorized under clinician education, patient education, and clinic preparation and can be found under the individual guidelines or collectively at the left side menu. 

Summary of Revised CDC Recommendation for HIV Testing in Health Care Settings (2006) 

• Routine HIV screening is recommended for all patients age 13-64 in health-care settings

• In low prevalence areas, screening can be discontinued if <1 positive test per 1,000 patients screened 

• Screening after notifying the patient that HIV test will be performed unless the patient declines (opt-out screening) is recommended in all health care settings

• Requirements for consent vary according to state law, but the CDC advocates that no seperate written consent for HIV testing be required and many states have adopted this recommendation 

• Prevention counseling should not be required as a part of screening programs in health care settings

• Persons at high risk for HIV infection should be screened for HIV at least annually

• HIV-infected persons should receive or be referred for clinical care promptly

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