Ensuring that HIV screening continued during the pandemic helped avoid missing new HIV diagnoses.
Throughout the U.S., there have been reported declines in HIV testing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have important implications for Ending the HIV Epidemic plans. Investigators at a Chicago emergency department (ED) developed a process to incorporate phlebotomy for HIV screening in the COVID testing protocol without additional personnel.
Between January 1 and October 16, 2020, the ED performed 18,830 COVID tests and 14,215 HIV screenings, resulting in 39 new HIV diagnoses, including 12 patients with acute HIV infection (11 presenting with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, and 1 with COVID-19 infection). The number of HIV screenings and the rate of new acute HIV diagnoses were significantly higher than in the prior 4 year…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes; Vaccines
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesInternational Antiviral Society–USA (Board of Directors); Infectious Diseases Society of America (Past President)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse
Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes; Vaccines
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesInternational Antiviral Society–USA (Board of Directors); Infectious Diseases Society of America (Past President)