CDC Recommends New HIV Testing Approach in Labs

June 26, 2014 – CDC Recommends New HIV Testing Approach in Labs to Diagnose Infection Earlier

National HIV Testing Day (June 27) offers an opportunity to reflect on the pivotal role that HIV testing plays in our nation’s ever-expanding prevention toolkit. Today, CDC recommends a new approach for HIV testing in laboratories that capitalizes on the latest technology to improve diagnosis of acute infection, the earliest stage of HIV infection when people are most likely to transmit the virus.

For your stories about the new recommendations, please find below a statement from Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director, CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, as well as other useful background resources on the new approach and on HIV testing.

Resources

Media Statement: National HIV Testing Day 2014 (June 27): CDC Recommends New HIV Testing Approach to Diagnose Infection Earlier
Recommendations: Laboratory Testing for the Diagnosis of HIV Infection: Updated Recommendations
Background Materials – Fact Sheet
- HIV Testing in the United States

Graphic: New CDC Recommendations for HIV Testing in Laboratories

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Please note that this resource is for reporters. If you are a member of the general public and seek additional information about HIV, please visit www.cdc.gov/hiv/. If you have additional questions, please call 1(800) CDC INFO or email cdcinfo@cdc.gov.

New CDC Recommendations for HIV Testing in Laboratories: A step-by-step account of the approach
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CDC’s new recommendations for HIV testing in laboratories capitalize on the latest available technologies to help diagnose HIV infections earlier – as much as 3-4 weeks sooner than the previous testing approach. Early diagnosis is critical since many new infections are transmitted by people in the earliest (“acute”) stage of infection. This graphic is designed to illustrate key concepts of the new testing approach in laboratories.