CDC HIV Testing Recommendations

Who Should Have HIV Testing?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that HIV testing and HIV screening be part of routine clinical care in all health care settings. The CDC also has stated it suggests that the patient's right to refuse be preserved in order to facilitate a good working relationship between patient and doctor. The following summarizes the HIV testing recommendations from the CDC.

Patients in all Health-Care Settings

• HIV screening is recommended for patients in all health-care settings after the patient is notified that testing will be performed unless the patient declines (opt-out screening).

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

• Separate written consent for HIV testing should not be required; general consent for medical care should be considered sufficient and imply consent for HIV testing.

• Prevention counseling should not be required with HIV diagnostic testing or as part of HIV screening programs in health-care settings.

HIV Testing Resources

5 Reasons to get HIV Tested

Pregnant Women

• HIV screening should be included in the routine panel of prenatal screening tests for all pregnant women.

• HIV screening is recommended after the patient is notified that testing will be performed unless the patient declines (opt-out screening).
• Separate written consent for HIV testing should not be required; general consent for medical care should be considered sufficient for HIV testing.

• Repeat screening in the third trimester is recommended in certain areas with elevated rates of HIV infection among pregnant women.

HIV and Pregnancy

HIV Transmission from Mothers to their Children

_{Source: The CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report; September 22, 2006/Vol. 55/No. 37.}