Monitoring HIV testing at visits to emergency departments in the United States: very-low rate of HIV testing

High Rate of HIV Among Trauma Patients Participating in Routine Emergency Department Screening

Limited published data suggest rates of HIV may be high among trauma patients. This study compares rates of HIV screening and diagnosis among trauma and medical patients at a Level 1 trauma center emergency department (ED) with a universal HIV screening program. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of all ED encounters from May 1, 2018, through May 1, 2021. Duplicate encounters, encounters with repeat testing within one year, and patients younger than 18 or older than 65 were excluded. Chi-squared analysis was used to compare demographics, rates of HIV testing, new and known HIV infections, and linkage to care between trauma and medical patients. After exclusion criteria were applied, 147,430 encounters from 91,468 unique patients were analyzed. Trauma comprised 7,497 (5.4%) encounters. Trauma patients were less likely to be screened for HIV than medical patients (18.1% vs 25.6%; OR 0.64; 95%CI, 0.61-0.68, p < .01). Trauma patients had higher rates of HIV (2.2% vs 1.3%; OR 1.78; 95% CI, 1.22-2.58, p < .01). Both trauma and medical patients would benefit from strategies to increase screening. Including trauma patients in routine ED HIV screening should be a priority to increase diagnosis rate and linkage to care in key populations.

HIV Testing at Visits to US Emergency Departments, 2018

BACKGROUND

An early HIV diagnosis improves patient outcomes, reduces the burden of undiagnosed HIV, and limits transmission. There is a need for an updated assessment of HIV testing rates in the emergency department (ED).

SETTING

The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey sampling ED visits were weighted to give an estimate of ED visits across all US states in 2018.

METHODS

We analyzed patients aged 13-64 years without known HIV and estimated ED visits with HIV testing and then stratified by race, ethnicity, and region. Descriptive statistics and mapping were used to illustrate and compare patient, visit, and hospital characteristics for visits with HIV testing.

RESULTS

Of 83.0 million weighted visits to EDs in 2018 by patients aged 13-64 years without a known HIV infection (based on 13,237 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey sample visits), HIV testing was performed in 1.05% of visits. HIV testing was more frequent for patients aged 13-34 years compared with that for patients aged 35-64 years (1.32% vs. 0.82%, P = 0.056), Black patients compared with that for White and other patients (1.73% vs. 0.79% and 0.41%, P = 0.002), Hispanic or Latino patients compared with that for non-Hispanic or Latino patients (2.18% vs. 0.84%, P = 0.001), and patients insured by Medicaid compared with that for patients insured by private or other insurance (1.71% vs. 0.64% and 0.96%, P = 0.003). HIV testing rates were the highest in the Northeast (1.72%), followed by the South (1.05%).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV testing occurred in a minority of ED visits. There are differences in rates of HIV testing by race, ethnicity, and location. Although rates of testing have increased, rates of ED-based HIV testing remain low.

A preliminary analysis of the performance of a targeted HIV electronic medical records alert system: A single hospital experience

Early treatment of HIV relies on a timely detection of the infection, but many people living with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their infection. In the current study, we applied an electronic medical records (EMR)-based alert system flagging high-risk patients previously diagnosed with infections of syphilis, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and/or hepatitis C virus, and those aged 20-50 years with a prior diagnosis of shingles. During the study period (April to October 2019), a total of 47 individuals among 22,264 patients visiting our department were identified as having high-risk of carrying HIV, and 14 of these individuals underwent HIV testing. Two males aged below 65 years with a previous diagnosis of syphilis were subsequently tested positive for HIV. This preliminary analysis of the EMR alert system facilitated the identification of high-risk people possibly carrying HIV, but the test rate remains to be improved.

Prescription of antimicrobials in primary health care as a marker to identify people living with undiagnosed HIV infection, Denmark, 1998 to 2016

Background

Development of additional diagnostic strategies for earlier HIV diagnosis are needed as approximately 50% of newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals continue to present late for HIV care.

Aim

We aimed to analyse antimicrobial consumption in the 3 years preceding HIV diagnosis, assess whether there was a higher consumption in those diagnosed with HIV compared with matched controls and whether the level of consumption was associated with the risk of HIV infection.

Methods

We conducted a nested case–control study, identifying all individuals (n = 2,784 cases) diagnosed with HIV in Denmark from 1998 to 2016 and 13 age-and sex-matched population controls per case (n = 36,192 controls) from national registers. Antimicrobial drug consumption was estimated as defined daily doses per person-year. We used conditional logistic regression to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

In the 3 years preceding an HIV diagnosis, we observed more frequent and higher consumption of antimicrobial drugs in cases compared with controls, with 72.4% vs 46.3% having had at least one prescription (p < 0.001). For all antimicrobial classes, the association between consumption and risk of subsequent HIV diagnosis was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The association was stronger with higher consumption and with shorter time to HIV diagnosis.

Conclusion

HIV-infected individuals have a significantly higher use of antimicrobial drugs in the 3 years preceding HIV diagnosis than controls. Prescription of antimicrobial drugs in primary healthcare could be an opportunity to consider proactive HIV testing. Further studies need to identify optimal prescription cut-offs that could endorse its inclusion in public health policies.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infection Testing Among Commercially Insured Persons Who Inject Drugs, United States, 2010-2017

BACKGROUND

We assessed prevalence of testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID).

METHODS

Using a nationwide health insurance database for claims paid during 2010-2017, we identified PWID by using codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Current Procedural Terminology, and National Drug Codes directory. We then estimated the percentage of PWIDs tested for HIV or HCV within 1 year of an index encounter, and we used multivariate logistic regression models to assess demographic and clinical factors associated with testing.

RESULTS

Of 844 242 PWIDs, 71 938 (8.5%) were tested for HIV and 65 188 (7.7%) were tested for HCV infections. Missed opportunities were independently associated with being male (odds ratios [ORs]: HIV, 0.50 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.49-0.50], P < .001; HCV, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.65-0.72], P < .001), rural residence (ORs: HIV, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.65-0.69], P < .001; HCV, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.73-0.77], P < .001), and receiving services for skin infections or endocarditis (adjusted ORs: HIV, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.87-0.95], P < .001; HCV, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.86-0.95], P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 90% of presumed PWIDs missed opportunities for HIV or HCV testing, especially male rural residents with claims for skin infections or endocarditis, commonly associated with injection drug use.

Towards ending the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic in the US: State of human immunodeficiency virus screening during physician and emergency department visits, 2009 to 2014

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing is important for prevention and treatment. Ending the HIV epidemic is unattainable if significant proportions of people living with HIV remain undiagnosed, making HIV testing critical for prevention and treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine HIV testing for persons aged 13 to 64 years in all health care settings. This study builds on prior research by estimating the extent to which HIV testing occurs during physician office and emergency department (ED) post 2006 CDC recommendations.We performed an unweighted and weighted cross-sectional analysis using pooled data from 2 nationally representative surveys namely National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 2009 to 2014. We assessed routine HIV testing trends and predictive factors in physician offices and ED using multi-stage statistical survey procedures in SAS 9.4.HIV testing rates in physician offices increased by 105% (5.6-11.5 per 1000) over the study period. A steeper increase was observed in ED with a 191% (2.3-6.7 per 1000) increase. Odds ratio (OR) for HIV testing in physician offices were highest among ages 20 to 29 ([OR] 7.20, 99% confidence interval [CI: 4.37-11.85]), males (OR 1.34, [CI: 0.91-0.93]), African-Americans (OR 2.97, [CI: 2.05-4.31]), Hispanics (OR 1.80, [CI: 1.17-2.78]), and among visits occurring in the South (OR 2.06, [CI: 1.23-3.44]). In the ED, similar trends of higher testing odds persisted for African Americans (OR 3.44, 99% CI 2.50-4.73), Hispanics (OR 2.23, 99% CI 1.65-3.01), and Northeast (OR 2.24, 99% CI 1.10-4.54).While progress has been made in screening, HIV testing rates remains sub-optimal for ED visits. Populations visiting the ED for routine care may suffer missed opportunities for HIV testing, which delays their entry into HIV medical care. To end the epidemic, new approaches for increasing targeted routine HIV testing for populations attending health care settings is recommended.

Effect of an Electronic Alert on Targeted HIV Testing Among High-Risk Populations

CONTEXT

Screening for HIV infection in medical settings remains suboptimal.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the real-world effectiveness of an electronic clinician alert on the same-day HIV testing rate and early diagnosis in high-risk populations.

DESIGN

We identified Kaiser Permanente Southern California Health Plan members aged 14 years or older who received tests for sexually transmitted infections.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Encounter-based same-day HIV testing rate, positive test result rate, and CD4⁺ cell count and HIV viral load at diagnosis.

RESULTS

We identified 1,800,948 patients who made 2,326,701 health care encounters eligible for HIV testing before implementation (January 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012) and 1,362,479 eligible encounters after implementation (January 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015). The same-day HIV testing rate increased from 36.7% to 44.1% (standardized mean difference = 0.15, significant difference). The alert was associated with a moderate difference and statistically significant increase in the HIV testing rate (adjusted odds ratio = 1.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.16-1.18). The positive test result rate increased from 0.02% to 0.04% (p < 0.001). During the postimplementation period, fewer HIV-infected patients had a CD4⁺ cell count below 200 and/or an HIV viral load of 10,000 copies/mL or higher at diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of a targeted electronic alert embedded in the electronic medical record improved same-day HIV screening rate and positive test result rates among patients receiving tests for sexually transmitted infections in a large health organization. This intervention has potential for facilitating frequent screening and early identification of HIV infection in high-risk populations.

Identifying missed clinical opportunities for the earlier diagnosis of HIV in Australia, a retrospective cohort data linkage study

Background

Treatment as prevention approaches for HIV require optimal HIV testing strategies to reduce undiagnosed HIV infections. In most settings, HIV testing strategies still result in unacceptably high rates of missed and late diagnoses. This study aimed to identify clinical opportunities for targeted HIV testing in persons at risk to facilitate earlier HIV diagnosis in New South Wales, Australia; and to assess the duration between the diagnosis of specific conditions and HIV diagnosis.

Methods

The Australian National HIV registry was linked to cancer diagnoses, notifiable condition diagnoses, emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for all HIV diagnoses between 1993 and 2012 in NSW. Date of HIV acquisition was estimated from back-projection models and people with a likely duration from infection to diagnosis of less than 180 days were excluded. Risk factors associated with clinical opportunities for the earlier diagnosis of HIV were identified.

Results

Sexually transmitted infection diagnoses (particularly gonorrhoea and syphilis) and some hospital admissions (mental health and drug-related diagnoses, and non-infective digestive disorder diagnoses) were prominent among people estimated to be living with undiagnosed HIV. The length of time between a clinical opportunity for the earlier HIV diagnosis and actual HIV diagnosis was 13.3 months for notifiable conditions, and 15.2 months for hospital admissions. People with lower CD4+ cell count at diagnosis, and older people were significantly less likely to have a missed opportunity for earlier HIV diagnosis.

Conclusions

Additional targeted clinical HIV testing strategies are warranted for people with gonorrhoea and syphilis; and hospital presentations or admissions for mental health, drug-related and gastrointestinal diagnoses.

Cash incentives versus defaults for HIV testing: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Tools from behavioral economics have been shown to improve health-related behaviors, but the relative efficacy and additive effects of different types of interventions are not well established. We tested the influence of small cash incentives, defaults, and both in combination on increasing patient HIV test acceptance.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We conducted a randomized clinical trial among patients aged 13-64 receiving care in an urban emergency department. Patients were cross-randomized to $0, $1, $5, and $10 incentives, and to opt-in, active-choice, and opt-out test defaults. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who accepted an HIV test. 4,831 of 8,715 patients accepted an HIV test (55.4%). Those offered no monetary incentive accepted 51.6% of test offers. The $1 treatment did not increase test acceptance (increase 1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.0 to 3.9); the $5 and $10 treatments increased test acceptance rates by 10.5 and 15 percentage points, respectively (95% CI 7.5 to 13.4 and 11.8 to 18.1). Compared to opt-in testing, active-choice testing increased test acceptance by 11.5% (95% CI 9.0 to 14.0), and opt-out testing increased acceptance by 23.9 percentage points (95% CI 21.4 to 26.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Small incentives and defaults can both increase patient HIV test acceptance, though when used in combination their effects were less than additive. These tools from behavioral economics should be considered by clinicians and policymakers. How patient groups respond to monetary incentives and/or defaults deserves further investigation for this and other health behaviors.

Incorporation of Social Determinants of Health in the Peer-Reviewed Literature: A Systematic Review of Articles Authored by the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

OBJECTIVES

Social determinants of health (SDHs) are the complex, structural, and societal factors that are responsible for most health inequities. Since 2003, the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) has researched how SDHs place communities at risk for communicable diseases and poor adolescent health. We described the frequency and types of SDHs discussed in articles authored by NCHHSTP.

METHODS

We used the MEDLINE/PubMed search engine to systematically review the frequency and type of SDHs that appeared in peer-reviewed publications available in PubMed from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2014, with a NCHHSTP affiliation. We chose search terms to identify articles with a focus on the following SDH categories: income and employment, housing and homelessness, education and schooling, stigma or discrimination, social or community context, health and health care, and neighborhood or built environment. We classified articles based on the depth of topic coverage as "substantial" (ie, one of ≤3 foci of the article) or "minimal" (ie, one of ≥4 foci of the article).

RESULTS

Of 862 articles authored by NCHHSTP, 366 (42%) addressed the SDH factors of interest. Some articles addressed >1 SDH factor (366 articles appeared 568 times across the 7 categories examined), and we examined them for each category that they addressed. Most articles that addressed SDHs (449/568 articles; 79%) had a minimal SDH focus. SDH categories that were most represented in the literature were health and health care (190/568 articles; 33%) and education and schooling (118/568 articles; 21%).

CONCLUSIONS

This assessment serves as a baseline measurement of inclusion of SDH topics from NCHHSTP authors in the literature and creates a methodology that can be used in future assessments of this topic.

Knowledge of HIV Testing Guidelines Among US Internal Medicine Residents: A Decade After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Routine HIV Testing Recommendations

Ten years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended universal HIV screening, rates remain low. Internal medicine residents are the front-line medical providers for large groups of patients. We evaluated the knowledge of internal medicine residents about HIV testing guidelines and examined adherence to universal HIV testing in an outpatient setting. A cross-sectional survey of internal medicine residents at four residency programs in Chicago was conducted from January to March 2016. Aggregate data on HIV screening were collected from 35 federally qualified community health centers in the Chicago area after inclusion of an HIV testing best practice alert in patients' electronic medical records. Of the 192 residents surveyed, 130 (68%) completed the survey. Only 58% were aware of universal HIV screening and 49% were aware that Illinois law allows for an opt-out HIV testing strategy. Most of the residents (64%) ordered no more than 10 HIV tests in 6 months. The most frequently reported barriers to HIV testing were deferral because of urgent care issues, lack of time, and the perception that patients were uncomfortable discussing HIV testing. From July 2015 to February 2016, the average HIV testing adherence rate in the 35 health centers was 18.2%. More effort is needed to change HIV testing practices among internal medicine residents so that they will adopt this approach in their future clinical practice. Improving knowledge about HIV testing and addressing other HIV testing barriers are essential for such a successful change.

How well are U.S. primary care providers assessing whether their male patients have male sex partners?

Identifying patients at-risk for HIV infection, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), is an important step in providing HIV testing and prevention interventions. It is unknown how primary care providers (PCPs) assess MSM status and related HIV-risk factors. We analyzed data from a panel-derived web-based survey for healthcare providers conducted in 2014 to describe how PCPs in the U.S. determined their patients' MSM status. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to describe PCP characteristics associated with systematically determining MSM status (i.e., PCP used "a patient-completed questionnaire" or "routine verbal review of sex history"). Among the 1008 PCPs, 56% determined MSM status by routine verbal review of sexual history; 41% by patient disclosure; 39% by questions driven by symptoms/history; 23% by using a patient-completed questionnaire, and 9% didn't determine MSM status. PCPs who systematically determined MSM status (n=665; 66%) were more likely to be female (aPR=1.16, CI=1.06-1.26), to be affiliated with a teaching hospital (aPR=1.15, CI=1.06-1.25), to routinely screen all patients aged 13-64 for HIV (aPR=1.29, CI=1.18-1.41), and to estimate that 6% or more of their male patients are MSM (aPR=1.14, CI=1.01-1.30). The majority of PCPs assessed MSM status and HIV risk factors through routine verbal reviews of sexual history. Implementing a systematic approach to identify MSM status and assess risk may allow PCPs to identify more patients needing frequent HIV testing and other preventive services, while mitigating socio-cultural barriers to obtaining such information.

Hospital-based routine HIV testing in high-income countries: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVES

To produce a summary of the published evidence of the barriers and facilitators for hospital-based routine HIV testing in high-income countries.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched for studies, which described the offer of HIV testing to adults attending emergency departments (EDs) and acute medical units (AMUs) in the UK and US, published between 2006 and 2015. Other high-income countries were not included, as their guidelines do not recommend routine testing for HIV. The main outcomes of interest were HIV testing uptake, HIV testing coverage, factors facilitating HIV screening and barriers to HIV testing. Fourteen studies met the pre-defined inclusion criteria and critically appraised using mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT).

RESULTS

HIV testing coverage ranged from 9.7% to 38.3% and 18.7% to 26% while uptake levels were high (70.1-84% and 53-75.4%) in the UK and US, respectively. Operational barriers such as lack of time, the need for training and concerns about giving results and follow-up of HIV positive results, were reported. Patient-specific factors including female sex, old age and low risk perception correlated with refusal of HIV testing. Factors that facilitated the offer of HIV testing were venous sampling (vs. point-of-care tests), commitment of medical staff to HIV testing policy and support from local HIV specialist providers.

CONCLUSIONS

There are several barriers to routine HIV testing in EDs and AMUs. Many of these stem from staff fears about offering HIV testing due to the perceived lack of knowledge about HIV. Our systematic review highlights areas which can be targeted to increase coverage of routine HIV testing.

Targeted HIV Screening in Eight Emergency Departments: The DICI-VIH Cluster-Randomized Two-Period Crossover Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

This study compares the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of nurse-driven targeted HIV screening alongside physician-directed diagnostic testing (intervention strategy) with diagnostic testing alone (control strategy) in 8 emergency departments.

METHODS

In this cluster-randomized, 2-period, crossover trial, 18- to 64-year-old patients presenting for reasons other than potential exposure to HIV were included. The strategy applied first was randomly assigned. During both periods, diagnostic testing was prescribed by physicians following usual care. During the intervention periods, patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. According to their answers, the triage nurse suggested performing a rapid test to patients belonging to a high-risk group. The primary outcome was the proportion of new diagnoses among included patients, which further refers to effectiveness. A secondary outcome was the intervention's incremental cost (health care system perspective) per additional diagnosis.

RESULTS

During the intervention periods, 74,161 patients were included, 16,468 completed the questionnaire, 4,341 belonged to high-risk groups, and 2,818 were tested by nurses, yielding 13 new diagnoses. Combined with 9 diagnoses confirmed through 97 diagnostic tests, 22 new diagnoses were established. During the control periods, 74,166 patients were included, 92 were tested, and 6 received a new diagnosis. The proportion of new diagnoses among included patients was higher during the intervention than in the control periods (3.0 per 10,000 versus 0.8 per 10,000; difference 2.2 per 10,000, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.6; relative risk 3.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 9.8). The incremental cost was €1,324 per additional new diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

The combined strategy of targeted screening and diagnostic testing was effective.

HIV testing in dermatology - a national audit

Forty percent of individuals have late-stage HIV at the time of diagnosis, resulting in increased morbidity. Identifying key diseases which may indicate HIV infection can prompt clinicians to trigger testing, which may result in more timely diagnosis. The British HIV Association has published guidelines on such indicator diseases in dermatology. We audited the practice of HIV testing in UK dermatologists and General Practitioners (GPs) and compared results with the national guidelines. This audit showed that HIV testing in key indicator diseases remains below the standard set out by the national guidelines, and that GPs with special interest in dermatology have a lower likelihood for testing, and lower confidence when compared to consultants, registrars and associate specialists. Large proportions of respondents believed further training in HIV testing would be beneficial.

Informed consent for opt-in HIV testing via tablet kiosk: an assessment of patient comprehension and acceptability

Although implementation of HIV testing in the emergency department has met with some success, one commonly cited challenge is the consent process. Kiosks offer one potential strategy to overcome this barrier. This pilot cross-sectional survey study examined patient comprehension of opt-in HIV testing consent and acceptability of using a kiosk to provide consent. Subjects were guided through a simulated consent process using a kiosk and then completed a survey of consent comprehension and acceptability of kiosk use. Subjects were 50.3% female, Black (74.4%), and had an education level of high school or less (61.3%). Subjects found the kiosk very easy or easy to use (83.9%) and reported they were very or mostly comfortable using the kiosk to consent to HIV testing (89.4%). Subjects understood the required aspects of consent: HIV testing was voluntary (93.0%, n = 185) and that refusal would not impact their care (98.5%, n = 196; 99.0%, n = 197). Following a simulated consent process, subjects demonstrated a high rate of comprehension about the vital components of HIV testing consent. Subjects reported they were comfortable using the kiosk, found the kiosk easy to use, and reported a positive experience using the kiosk to provide consent for HIV testing.

Factors associated with patients who prefer HIV self-testing over health professional testing in an emergency department-based rapid HIV screening program

Kiosk-facilitated HIV self-testing has been shown to be accurate and well accepted by emergency department (ED) patients. We investigated factors associated with patients who preferred self-testing over testing performed by health professionals in an ED-based HIV screening program. This opt-in program evaluation studied 332 patients in an inner-city academic ED from February 2012 to April 2012, when a kiosk-based HIV self-testing program was standard of care. The first kiosk in the 2-stage system registered patients and assessed their interest in screening, while the second kiosk gathered demographic and risk factor information and also provided self-testing instructions. Patients who declined to self-test were offered testing by staff. Broad eligibility included patients aged 18-64 years who were not critically ill, English-speaking, able to provide informed consent, and registered during HIV program operational hours. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and Chi squared tests; 160 (48.2%) of 332 patients consenting to testing chose to use a kiosk to guide them performing self-testing. Patients aged 25-29 years and those whose primary ED diagnosis was not infectious disease-related were more likely to prefer HIV self-testing (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.17-4.10; OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.03-3.12). HIV self-testing in the ED could serve as a complementary testing approach to the conventional modality.

Changing Clinician Practices and Attitudes Regarding the Use of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Treatment and Prevention

As part of the HPTN 065 study in the Bronx, New York and Washington, the authors, we surveyed clinicians to assess for shifts in their practices and attitudes around HIV treatment and prevention. Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-prescribing clinicians at 39 HIV care sites were offered an anonymous Web-based survey at baseline (2010-2011) and at follow-up (2013). The 165 respondents at baseline and 141 respondents at follow-up had similar characteristics-almost 60% were female, median age was 47 years, two-thirds were physicians, and nearly 80% were HIV specialists. The percentage who reported recommending ART irrespective of CD4 count was higher at follow-up (15% versus 68%), as was the percentage who would initiate ART earlier for patients having unprotected sex with partners of unknown HIV status (64% versus 82%), and for those in HIV-discordant partnerships (75% versus 87%). In line with changing HIV treatment guidelines during 2010 to 2013, clinicians increasingly supported early ART for treatment and prevention.

Cost-Effectiveness of Opt-Out Chlamydia Testing for High-Risk Young Women in the U.S

INTRODUCTION

In spite of chlamydia screening recommendations, U.S. testing coverage continues to be low. This study explored the cost-effectiveness of a patient-directed, universal, opportunistic Opt-Out Testing strategy (based on insurance coverage, healthcare utilization, and test acceptance probabilities) for all women aged 15-24 years compared with current Risk-Based Screening (30% coverage) from a societal perspective.

METHODS

Based on insurance coverage (80%); healthcare utilization (83%); and test acceptance (75%), the proposed Opt-Out Testing strategy would have an expected annual testing coverage of approximately 50% for sexually active women aged 15-24 years. A basic compartmental heterosexual transmission model was developed to account for population-level transmission dynamics. Two groups were assumed based on self-reported sexual activity. All model parameters were obtained from the literature. Costs and benefits were tracked over a 50-year period. The relative sensitivity of the estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios to the variables/parameters was determined. This study was conducted in 2014-2015.

RESULTS

Based on the model, the Opt-Out Testing strategy decreased the overall chlamydia prevalence by >55% (2.7% to 1.2%). The Opt-Out Testing strategy was cost saving compared with the current Risk-Based Screening strategy. The estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was most sensitive to the female pre-opt out prevalence, followed by the probability of female sequelae and discount rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed Opt-Out Testing strategy was cost saving, improving health outcomes at a lower net cost than current testing. However, testing gaps would remain because many women might not have health insurance coverage, or not utilize health care.

HIV Testing Among Men at Risk for Acquiring HIV Infection Before and After the 2006 CDC Recommendations

OBJECTIVES

Testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the key first step in HIV treatment and prevention. In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended annual HIV testing for people at high risk for HIV infection. We evaluated HIV testing among men with high-risk heterosexual (HRH) contact and sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) before and after the CDC recommendations.

METHODS

We used data from the National Survey of Family Growth, 2002 and 2006-2010, to assess proportions of HRH respondents and MSM reporting HIV testing in the prior 12 months, compare rates of testing before and after release of the 2006 CDC HIV testing guidelines, and examine demographic variables and receipt of health-care services as correlates of HIV testing.

RESULTS

Among MSM, the proportion tested was 37.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 28.2, 47.2) in 2002, 38.2% (95% CI 25.9, 52.2) in 2006-2008, and 41.7% (95% CI 29.2, 55.3) in 2008-2010; among HRH respondents, the proportion was 23.7% (95% CI 20.5, 27.3) in 2002, 24.5% (95% CI 20.9, 28.7) in 2006-2008, and 23.9% (95% CI 20.2, 28.1) in 2008-2010. HIV testing was more likely among MSM and HRH respondents who received testing or treatment for sexually transmitted disease in the prior 12 months, received a physical examination in the prior 12 months (MSM only), or were incarcerated in the prior 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of annual HIV testing was low for men with sexual risk for HIV infection, and little improvement took place from 2002 to 2006-2010. Interventions aimed at men at risk, especially MSM, in both nonmedical and health-care settings, likely could increase HIV testing.

Linkage-to-care Methods and Rates in U.S. Emergency Department-based HIV Testing Programs: A Systematic Literature Review Brief Report

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of U.S. emergency departments (EDs) have implemented ED-based HIV testing programs since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued revised HIV testing recommendations for clinical settings in 2006. In 2010, the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) set an linkage-to-care (LTC) rate goal of 85% within 90 days of HIV diagnosis. LTC rates for newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients vary markedly by site, and many are suboptimal. The optimal approach for LTC in the ED setting remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to perform a brief descriptive analysis of the LTC methods practiced in EDs across the United States to determine the overall linkage rate of ED-based HIV testing programs.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of literature related to U.S. ED HIV testing in the adult population using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane. There were 333 articles were identified; 31 articles were selected after a multiphasic screening process. We analyzed data from the 31 articles to assess LTC methods and rates. LTC methods that involved physical escort of the newly diagnosed patient to an HIV/infectious disease (ID) clinic or interaction with a specialist health care provider at the ED were operationally defined as "intensive" LTC protocol. "Mixed" LTC protocol was defined as a program that employed intensive linkage only part of the coverage hours. All other forms of linkage was defined as "nonintensive" LTC protocol. An LTC rate of ≥85% was used to identify characteristics of ED-based HIV testing program associated with a higher LTC rate.

RESULTS

There were 37 ED-based HIV testing programs in the 31 articles. The overall LTC rate was 74.4%. Regarding type of protocol, nine (24.3%) employed intensive LTC protocols, 25 (67.6%) nonintensive, two (5.4%) mixed, and one (2.7%) with unclear protocols. LTC rates for programs with intensive and nonintensive LTC protocols were 80.0 and 72.7%, respectively. Four (44.4%) with intensive protocols and nine (36.0%) with the nonintensive protocols had LTC rates > 85%. The linkage staff employed was different between ED programs. Among them, 25 (67.6%) programs used exogenous staff, 10 (27.0%) used the ED staff, and two had no information. All the programs in the nonintensive group utilized drop-in HIV/ID clinic or medical appointments while seven of nine of the programs in the intensive group physically escorted the patients to the initial medical intake appointment. There were no significant differences in characteristics of ED-based HIV testing programs between those with ≥85% LTC rate versus those with <85% within the intensive or nonintensive group.

CONCLUSION

Intensive LTC protocols had a higher LTC rate and a higher proportion of programs that surpassed the >85% NHAS goal compared to nonintensive methods, suggesting that, when possible, ED-based HIV testing programs should adopt intensive LTC strategies to improve LTC outcomes. However, intensive LTC protocols most often required involvement of multidisciplinary non-ED professionals and external research funding. Our findings provide a foundation for developing best practices for ED-based HIV LTC programs.

Scaling Up HIV Testing in an Academic Emergency Department: An Integrated Testing Model with Rapid Fourth-Generation and Point-of-Care Testing

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated two approaches for implementing routine HIV screening in an inner-city, academic emergency department (ED). These approaches differed by staffing model and type of HIV testing technology used. The programmatic outcomes assessed included the total number of tests performed, proportion of newly identified HIV-positive patients, and proportion of newly diagnosed individuals who were linked to care.

METHODS

This study examined specific outcomes for two distinct, successive approaches to implementing HIV screening in an inner-city, academic ED, from July 2012 through June 2013 (Program One), and from August 2013 through July 2014 (Program Two). Program One used a supplementary staff-only HIV testing model with point-of-care (POC) oral testing. Program Two used a triage-integrated, nurse-driven HIV testing model with fourth-generation blood and POC testing, and an expedited linkage-to-care process.

RESULTS

During Program One, 6,832 eligible patients were tested for HIV with a rapid POC oral HIV test. Sixteen patients (0.2%) were newly diagnosed with HIV, of whom 13 were successfully linked to care. During Program Two, 8,233 eligible patients were tested for HIV, of whom 3,124 (38.0%) received a blood test and 5,109 (62.0%) received a rapid POC test. Of all patients tested in Program Two, 29 (0.4%) were newly diagnosed with HIV, four of whom had acute infections and 27 of whom were successfully linked to care. We found a statistically significant difference in the proportion of the eligible population tested-8,233 of 49,697 (16.6%) in Program Two and 6,832 of 46,818 (14.6%) in Program One. These differences from Program One to Program Two corresponded to increases in testing volume (n=1,401 tests), number of patients newly diagnosed with HIV (n=13), and proportion of patients successfully linked to care (from 81.0% to 93.0%).

CONCLUSION

Integrating HIV screening into the standard triage workflow resulted in a higher proportion of ED patients being tested for HIV as compared with the supplementary staff-only HIV testing model. New rapid fourth-generation testing technology allowed the identification of acute HIV infection and same-visit confirmation of a positive diagnosis.

Comparison of HIV Testing Uptake in an Urban Academic Emergency Department Using Different Testing Assays and Support Systems

Despite 2006 recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for opt-out HIV testing in all healthcare settings, Emergency Department (ED) testing has been limited. We conducted an observational cohort study to assess the impact of two workflow interventions on the proportion of HIV tests ordered in an urban academic ED. First, a 4(th)-generation HIV antigen/antibody combination test replaced the existing assay, and ED staff continued to notify patients of their reactive tests. Six months later, the HIV Rapid Diagnosis Team, composed of an Infectious Diseases (ID) physician and the HIV Advanced Practice Nurse, immediately assisted with disclosure of positive results to the patients and facilitated linkage to outpatient care. The new assay did not change the proportion of HIV tests ordered (0.14-0.11%, χ2, p = 0.2). However, ID support was associated with a statistically significant increase in the proportion of HIV tests ordered (0.14-0.43%, χ2, p < 0.00010) and a nonstatistically significant increase in the proportion of new HIV diagnoses (1.6-6.8%, Fisher exact test = 0.113). Male gender and lack of insurance were associated with a reactive HIV test. Reduction of barriers to linkage to outpatient HIV care through a collaborative relationship between the ED and ID team increased HIV testing and diagnosis. The role of this model as a component of a universal HIV screening program will need to be further assessed.

The impact of nurse-driven targeted HIV screening in 8 emergency departments: study protocol for the DICI-VIH cluster-randomized two-period crossover trial

BACKGROUND

In 2010, to reduce late HIV diagnosis, the French national health agency endorsed non-targeted HIV screening in health care settings. Despite these recommendations, non-targeted screening has not been implemented and only physician-directed diagnostic testing is currently performed. A survey conducted in 2010 in 29 French Emergency Departments (EDs) showed that non-targeted nurse-driven screening was feasible though only a few new HIV diagnoses were identified, predominantly among high-risk groups. A strategy targeting high-risk groups combined with current practice could be shown to be feasible, more efficient and cost-effective than current practice alone.

METHODS/DESIGN

DICI-VIH (acronym for nurse-driven targeted HIV screening) is a multicentre, cluster-randomized, two-period crossover trial. The primary objective is to compare the effectiveness of 2 strategies for diagnosing HIV among adult patients visiting EDs: nurse-driven targeted HIV screening combined with current practice (physician-directed diagnostic testing) versus current practice alone. Main secondary objectives are to compare access to specialist consultation and how early HIV diagnosis occurs in the course of the disease between the 2 groups, and to evaluate the implementation, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of nurse-driven targeted screening. The 2 strategies take place during 2 randomly assigned periods in 8 EDs of metropolitan Paris, where 42 % of France's new HIV patients are diagnosed every year. All patients aged 18 to 64, not presenting secondary to HIV exposure are included. During the intervention period, patients are invited to fill a 7-item questionnaire (country of birth, sexual partners and injection drug use) in order to select individuals who are offered a rapid test. If the rapid test is reactive, a follow-up visit with an infectious disease specialist is scheduled within 72 h. Assuming an 80 % statistical power and a 5 % type 1 error, with 1.04 and 3.38 new diagnoses per 10,000 patients in the control and targeted groups respectively, a sample size of 140,000 patients was estimated corresponding to 8,750 patients per ED and per period. Inclusions started in June 2014. Results are expected by mid-2016.

DISCUSSION

The DICI-VIH study is the first large randomized controlled trial designed to assess nurse-driven targeted HIV screening. This study can provide valuable information on HIV screening in health care settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02127424 (29 April 2014).

Patient choice in opt-in, active choice, and opt-out HIV screening: randomized clinical trial

STUDY QUESTION

What is the effect of default test offers--opt-in, opt-out, and active choice--on the likelihood of acceptance of an HIV test among patients receiving care in an emergency department?

METHODS

This was a randomized clinical trial conducted in the emergency department of an urban teaching hospital and regional trauma center. Patients aged 13-64 years were randomized to opt-in, opt-out, and active choice HIV test offers. The primary outcome was HIV test acceptance percentage. The Denver Risk Score was used to categorize patients as being at low, intermediate, or high risk of HIV infection.

STUDY ANSWER AND LIMITATIONS

38.0% (611/1607) of patients in the opt-in testing group accepted an HIV test, compared with 51.3% (815/1628) in the active choice arm (difference 13.3%, 95% confidence interval 9.8% to 16.7%) and 65.9% (1031/1565) in the opt-out arm (difference 27.9%, 24.4% to 31.3%). Compared with active choice testing, opt-out testing led to a 14.6 (11.1 to 18.1) percentage point increase in test acceptance. Patients identified as being at intermediate and high risk were more likely to accept testing than were those at low risk in all arms (difference 6.4% (3.4% to 9.3%) for intermediate and 8.3% (3.3% to 13.4%) for high risk). The opt-out effect was significantly smaller among those reporting high risk behaviors, but the active choice effect did not significantly vary by level of reported risk behavior. Patients consented to inclusion in the study after being offered an HIV test, and inclusion varied slightly by treatment assignment. The study took place at a single county hospital in a city that is somewhat unique with respect to HIV testing; although the test acceptance percentages themselves might vary, a different pattern for opt-in versus active choice versus opt-out test schemes would not be expected.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

Active choice is a distinct test regimen, with test acceptance patterns that may best approximate patients' true preferences. Opt-out regimens can substantially increase HIV testing, and opt-in schemes may reduce testing, compared with active choice testing.

FUNDING, COMPETING INTERESTS, DATA SHARING

This study was supported by grant NIA 1RC4AG039078 from the National Institute on Aging. The full dataset is available from the corresponding author. Consent for data sharing was not obtained, but the data are anonymized and risk of identification is low.Trial registration Clinical trials NCT01377857.

HIV testing rate increased following recommendation of routine screening of acute medical admissions at Royal Darwin Hospital

Background To improve HIV detection, Royal Darwin Hospital implemented a guideline in 2012 recommending routine HIV testing for all adult acute medical admissions. This study aimed to determine the uptake, point prevalence and impact on late diagnosis of HIV screening following guideline implementation.

METHODS

Data on the number of HIV tests and number of acute medical admissions over the 8 months prior and post guideline implementation were extracted from hospital databases. A qualitative survey was conducted to ascertain clinician response to routine screening.

RESULTS

Fourteen per cent of admissions were tested post-implementation compared with 5.3% during the implementation period (P<0.001). HIV prevalence pre-implementation was 1.4% compared with 0.3% following implementation (P<0.05). The average CD4 count at diagnosis was <200 cells/mm(3).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant increase in HIV testing following guideline implementation; however, the overall testing rate remained low. Routine screening did not increase detection of HIV, and HIV continues to be diagnosed late at Royal Darwin Hospital. Methods for improving understanding of the rationale for routine screening and increased promotion of the guidelines are required to increase testing.

Brief report: Validation of a quantitative HIV risk prediction tool using a national HIV testing cohort

Routine screening is recommended for HIV detection. HIV risk estimation remains important. Our goal was to validate the Denver HIV Risk Score using a national cohort from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Patients of 13 years and older were included, 4,830,941 HIV tests were performed, and 0.6% newly diagnosed infections were identified. Of all visits, 9% were very low risk (HIV prevalence = 0.20%), 27% low risk (HIV prevalence = 0.17%), 41% moderate risk (HIV prevalence = 0.39%), 17% high risk (HIV prevalence = 1.19%), and 6% very high risk (HIV prevalence = 3.57%). The Denver HIV Risk Score accurately categorized patients into different HIV risk groups.

Opportunities for earlier HIV diagnosis in a pediatric ED

OBJECTIVES

Emergency department (ED) HIV screening is recommended but challenging to implement and of uncertain effectiveness in pediatric EDs (PEDs). We sought to determine whether there were opportunities for earlier HIV diagnosis in the PED for a cohort of young adults diagnosed with HIV.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study reviewed PED records of a group of young adults receiving HIV care in an urban hospital setting. Pediatric ED visits were selected for review if they took place after the patient's estimated time of HIV acquisition and before their eventual diagnosis. Charts were reviewed to determine whether HIV infection was suspected and whether testing was offered.

RESULTS

Among a cohort of HIV-positive young adults, only 3 (3.6%; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-10.8) of 84 were seen in the PED during the time they were undiagnosed but likely to be infected with HIV. Among these subjects, there was no documentation that HIV testing was offered or refused nor was there documented suspicion of HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

There are opportunities for earlier diagnosis of HIV in PEDs, affirming the importance of HIV screening implementation in these settings. However, PEDs are unlikely to have the same frequency of contact with undiagnosed individuals as do adult EDs. Alternative methods of accessing at-risk adolescent populations must be identified.

Correlates of routine HIV testing practices: a survey of New York State primary care physicians, 2011

BACKGROUND

The New York State (NYS) HIV Testing Law of 2010 mandates that medical providers offer HIV testing to patients aged between 13 and 64 years during primary care, to increase the number of people aware of their infection status, and to ensure linkage to medical treatment. To assess physician practices related to this legislation, we conducted a study to identify the frequency and correlates of routine HIV testing behavior among primary care physicians approximately 15 months after the new law went into effect.

METHODS

During September 2011 to January 2012, we mailed self-administered surveys to a representative sample of NYS primary care physicians drawn from the AMA Masterfile of Physicians. Questions included physician practices, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to routine HIV testing. Bivariate and multivariate analyses with a sample of 973 physicians were conducted to identify the most influential predictors of routine HIV testing behaviors.

RESULTS

A minority of physicians reported "always" or "frequently" practicing behaviors consistent with routine HIV testing, with 41.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 37.4 to 46.2] routinely offering tests to patients aged 13-64 years, 40.5% (95% CI: 36.3 to 44.8) to new patients, and 33.3% (95% CI: 29.4 to 37.6) to patients during routine physicals. Only 61.4% (95% CI: 57.4 to 65.6) said they had heard of the new law. In multivariate analyses, specialty, perceived barriers, familiarity with the law, and interaction terms representing familiarity by region and self-efficacy by region were significant predictors across the 3 scenarios of routine HIV testing behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Additional technical assistance and training is needed for physicians on adopting routine testing behaviors, minimizing barriers and enhancing skills.

HIV test offers and acceptance: New York State findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system and the National HIV behavioral surveillance, 2011-2012

BACKGROUND

The New York State HIV testing law requires that patients aged 13-64 years be offered HIV testing in health care settings. We investigated the extent to which HIV testing was offered and accepted during the 24 months after law enactment.

METHODS

We added local questions to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) surveys asking respondents aged 18-64 years whether they were offered an HIV test in health care settings, and whether they had accepted testing. Statewide prevalence estimates of test offers and acceptance were obtained from a combined 2011-2012 BRFSS sample (N = 6,223). Local estimates for 2 high-risk populations were obtained from NHBS 2011 men who have sex with men (N = 329) and 2012 injection drug users (N = 188) samples.

RESULTS

BRFSS data showed that 73% of New Yorkers received care in any health care setting in the past 12 months, of whom 25% were offered an HIV test. Sixty percent accepted the test when offered. The levels of test offer increased from 20% to 29% over time, whereas acceptance levels decreased from 68% to 53%. NHBS data showed that 81% of men who have sex with men received care, of whom 43% were offered an HIV test. Eighty-eight percent accepted the test when offered. Eighty-five percent of injection drug users received care, of whom 63% were offered an HIV test, and 63% accepted the test when offered.

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence of partial and increasing implementation of the HIV testing law. Importantly, these studies demonstrated New Yorkers' willingness to accept an offered HIV test as part of routine care in health care settings.

Influence of providers and nurses on completion of non-targeted HIV screening in an urgent care setting

Introduction

Despite recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that all adults be offered non-targeted HIV screening in all care settings, screening in acute-care settings remains unacceptably low. We performed an observational study to evaluate an HIV screening pilot in an academic-community partnership health center urgent care clinic.

Methods

We collected visit data via encounter forms and demographic and laboratory data from electronic medical records. A post-pilot survey of perceptions of HIV screening was administered to providers and nurses. Multivariable analysis was used to identify factors associated with completion of testing.

Results

Visit provider and triage nurse were highly associated with both acceptance of screening and completion of testing, as were younger age, male gender, and race/ethnicity. 23.5% of patients completed tests, although 36.0% requested screening; time constraints as well as risk perceptions by both the provider and patient were cited as limiting completion of screening. Post-pilot surveys showed mixed support for ongoing HIV screening in this setting by providers and little support by nurses.

Conclusions

Visit provider and triage nurse were strongly associated with acceptance of testing, which may reflect variable opinions of HIV screening in this setting by clinical staff. Among patients accepting screening, visit provider remained strongly associated with completion of testing. Despite longstanding recommendations for non-targeted HIV screening, further changes to improve the testing and results process, as well as provider education and buy-in, are needed to improve screening rates.

An electronic alert for HIV screening in the emergency department increases screening but not the diagnosis of HIV

OBJECTIVE

Based on US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, New York State enacted legislation in 2010 requiring healthcare providers to offer non-targeted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing to all patients aged 13-64. Three New York City adult emergency departments implemented an electronic alert that required clinicians to document whether an HIV test was offered before discharging a patient. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the electronic alert on HIV testing rates and diagnosis of HIV positive individuals.

METHODS

During the pre-intervention period (2.5-4 months), an electronic "HIV Testing" order set was available for clinicians to order a test or document a reason for not offering the test (e.g., patient is not conscious). An electronic alert was then added to enforce completion of the order set, effectively preventing ED discharge until an HIV test was offered to the patient. We analyzed data from 79,786 visits, measuring HIV testing and detection rates during the pre-intervention period and during the six months following the implementation of the alert.

RESULTS

The percentage of visits where an HIV test was performed increased from 5.4% in the preintervention period to 8.7% (p<0.001) after the electronic alert. After the implementation of the electronic alert, there was a 61% increase in HIV tests performed per visit. However, the percentage of patients testing positive per total patients-tested was slightly lower in the post-intervention group than the pre-intervention group (0.48% vs. 0.55%), but this was not significant. The number of patients-testing positive per total-patient visit was higher in the post-intervention group (0.04% vs. 0.03%).

CONCLUSIONS

An electronic alert which enforced non-targeted screening was effective at increasing HIV testing rates but did not significantly increase the detection of persons living with HIV. The impact of this electronic alert on healthcare costs and quality of care merits further examination.

Legislated human immunodeficiency virus testing in New York State Emergency Departments: reported experience from Emergency Department providers

In 2010, New York (NY) passed new legislation mandating Emergency Departments (EDs) to offer HIV tests to patients 13-64 presenting for care. We evaluated the requirement's implementation and determined differences based on HIV prevalence or site-specific designated AIDS centers (DACs). We also evaluated policies for linkage to care of new HIV positive patients. An electronic survey on testing practices and linkage to care was administered to all NY EDs, excluding VA hospitals. Basic descriptive statistics were used for analysis. The response rate was 96% (184/191). All respondents knew of the legislation and 86% offered testing, but only 65% (159/184) to all patients required by the law. EDs in NYC, high prevalence areas, and DACs were more likely to offer HIV testing. Most facilities (104/159, 65%) used separate written consent despite elimination of this requirement. Most EDs (67%) used rapid testing: oral point-of-care ED testing and rapid laboratory testing. Only 61% of EDs provided results to patients while in the ED. Most (94%) had a linkage-to-care protocol. However, only 29% confirm linkage. We provide the first report of NY ED HIV testing practices since the mandatory testing law. Most EDs offer HIV testing but challenges still exist. Linkage-to-care plans are in place, but few EDs confirm it occurs.

Is self-perceived HIV risk congruent with reported HIV risk among traditionally lower HIV risk and prevalence adult emergency department patients? Implications for HIV testing

Because reliance on patients' self-perceived risk for HIV might mislead emergency department (ED) clinicians on the need for HIV testing, we aimed to measure congruency between self-perceived and reported HIV risk in a traditional lower prevalence, lower-risk cohort. A random sample of 18- to 64-year-old patients at a large academic urban ED who were by self-report not men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) or injection-drug users (IDUs) were surveyed regarding their self-perceived and reported HIV risk. Sixty-two percent of participants were white non-Hispanic, 13.8% Black, and 21.2% Hispanic; and 66.9% previously had been tested for HIV. Linear regression models were constructed comparing self-perceived to reported HIV risk. Among the 329 female ED patients, 50.5% perceived that they were "not at risk" for HIV, yet only 10.9% reported no HIV risk behaviors, while among the 175 male ED patients, 50.9% perceived that they were "not at risk" for HIV, yet only 12.6% reported no HIV risk behaviors. Only 16.9% of women and 15.7% of men who had no self-perceived risk for HIV also reported no HIV risk behaviors. Multivariable linear regression demonstrated a weak relationship between self-perceived and reported risk. Congruency between self-perceived risk and reported HIV risk was low among these non-MSM, non-IDU ED patients.

Expanding HIV testing: back to the future

The value of HIV testing has grown in parallel with the development of increasingly effective HIV treatment. Evidence for the substantial reductions in transmission when persons receive antiretroviral therapy creates a new impetus to increase testing and early diagnosis. Models of treatment as prevention--dubbed "test and treat"--give reason for optimism that control and elimination of HIV may now be within reach. This will be possible only with widespread testing, prompt and accurate diagnosis, and universal access to immediate antiviral therapy. Many successful approaches for scaling up testing were pioneered in resource-limited countries before they were adopted by countries in the developed world. The future of HIV testing is changing. Lessons learned from other case-finding initiatives can help chart the course for comparable HIV testing endeavors.

HIV diagnosis and testing: what every healthcare professional can do (and why they should)

Over the last thirty years, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has matured. In the United States, HIV has changed from an explosive outbreak to an endemic disease; currently, an estimated 1.1 million people are infected with HIV, including a substantial number who are unaware of their status. With recent findings demonstrating the high transmissibility of HIV early in infection, and the potential benefit of early initiation of treatment, it is essential to identify as many infected individuals as possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded HIV testing to include any healthcare setting, including dental offices. Testing advances, including oral testing, have reduced the window period of HIV infection. Dental care represents a key, reliable, independent, and confidential link between the healthcare system and the general population that has been under-utilized in the effort to control the HIV epidemic. HIV testing is straightforward, and knowledge of the types of testing will afford dentists an important opportunity to help advance and preserve the health of their patients and to promote the public health of their community. Here, we review the basics of HIV testing and discuss new changes in the approach to HIV diagnostics.