A Streamlined Approach Increases HIV Testing at the Washington DC VA Medical Center

Eliminating the need for written informed consent and pre/posttest counseling increased the number of HIV tests done and the number of confirmed positive tests.

In 2006, the CDC issued new recommendations that proposed routine, nontargeted, opt-out HIV testing in medical settings, without a requirement for written informed consent or pre/posttest counseling. The Veterans Health Administration adopted these recommendations nationally in August 2009, and the Washington DC VA Medical Center implemented them that month. Now, researchers describe testing at this center in the 1-year-period before and after institution of the new approach.

Following the implementation of routine, opt-out HIV testing, the number of people tested in the center almost doubled (from 3222 to 6429), as did the proportion of all people tested (from 5.5% to 10.3%). The greatest increase was seen among veterans aged 61 to 70. No o…

Reviewing Author

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

A Streamlined Approach Increases HIV Testing at the Washington DC VA Medical Center

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Reviewing Author