Case Reporting Overestimates the Size of U.S. HIV+ Population vs. Lab Reporting

The estimated size of the HIV+ population in the U.S. is almost one-third lower by lab-based than by case-based reporting.

The value of the cascade of HIV national care for assessing the success of HIV management depends on the accuracy of estimates at each cascade stage. The current estimated number of persons living with HIV (PLWH) in the U.S. is based on CDC case reporting, in which new diagnoses of HIV infection or AIDS and deaths are reported to the surveillance registry. This method could overestimate the count if duplicate cases (through persons counted in more than one surveillance area registry, use of aliases, name changes, and data entry errors) or deaths are missed. The lab-based reporting method derives from HIV-related laboratory tests (e.g., viral load) reported to the registry.

These investigators compared case-based and lab-based estimates of PL…

Reviewing Author

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Case Reporting Overestimates the Size of U.S. HIV+ Population vs. Lab Reporting

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Reviewing Author