Frequent HIV Testing of MSM Is Cost-Effective

Modeling HIV transmission risk for men who have sex with men demonstrates that testing as often as every three months may be cost-effective.

In the U.S., men who have sex with men (MSM) have a high incidence of HIV infection. Now, CDC investigators have examined the potential cost-effectiveness of HIV testing for MSM and injection-drug users (IDUs) at 3- and 6-month intervals using fourth-generation and rapid, point-of-care tests.

The researchers constructed a mathematical model of HIV transmission and detection and used it to assess the testing intervals in theoretical cohorts of 10,000 MSM and IDUs. The model incorporated transmission decreases due to earlier knowledge of serostatus and virologic suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART), costs of HIV testing and starting treatment, and savings from transmission avoided due to treatment. Assumptions included an annual HIV inc…

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

Frequent HIV Testing of MSM Is Cost-Effective

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Reviewing Author