HIV/AIDS expert urges routine HIV testing

Two influential medical organizations, along with researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), have announced they strongly recommend universal and routine testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to help curb the AIDS epidemic. HIV infects more than 30 million globally; during last year alone, more than 2 million worldwide died from AIDS, which is caused by HIV.

The new policy is from the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American College of Physicians. It was co-authored by Michael Saag, M.D., director of the UAB Center for AIDS Research and chair-elect of the society's HIV Medicine Association.

The recommendation calls for universal HIV testing for everyone, from pre-teens to adults, unless they choose to opt-out of the tests. Insurers are urged to reimburse for the tests.

"A large number of HIV-infected patients are indeed infected, but they don't know it," Saag said. "The primary purpose of this new policy is to have universal testing of everyone so that we can identify people earlier and get them into care."

A previously adopted policy of opt-out testing for pregnant women in the United States has nearly halted mother-to-child transmission of HIV and resulted in infected moms generally having a much less damaged immune system when they begin anti-AIDS care, Saag said.

When HIV is detected early, infection treatments are less expensive, more effective and help lower the probability of spreading the disease to others. The tests can be done with a simple blood draw, a finger prick or a cheek swab.

The new policy calls for universal testing to occur in the primary care setting and at all health clinics. "One day very soon, we'll go see our internist, our family doctor, or anyone who is taking care of us, and they'll offer an HIV test. The patient will have the option to say no, but thankfully we'll have the option," Saag said.