1. HIV Testing in the U. S. Julie Saber Galen College of Nursing
October 2016

2. HIV is an acronym for Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Why should I get Tested
What is HIV
HIV weakens the immune system and increases risk for infections and cancers and can be fatal if left untreated
With medications and a healthy lifestyle HIV can be controlled
1.2 million people in the U.S. are currently living with HIV
1 in 8 of them are unaware they are HIV+
If a person is unaware of their HIV+ status they are more likely to transmit HIV to others
HIV cannot be treated without first being identified by getting tested
CDC (2016)

3. CDC (2016) http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/ataglance.html
Estimated New HIV Diagnoses in the United States for the Most-Affected Subpopulations, 2014
HIV infections by
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Sexual Orientation
Source: CDC. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2014 . HIV Surveillance Report 2015;26. Subpopulations representing 2% or less of HIV diagnoses are not reflected in this chart. Abbreviation: MSM, men who have sex with men.
CDC (2016)

4. Clip Art (2016) https://www.bing.com/images/

5. What does testing involve
Sample of Blood or Saliva
Antibody Test
Combination or 4th Generation Test
Nucleic Acid Test (NAT)
Test is a measure of the presence of antibody proteins created to fight HIV
Sample for test can be either blood or saliva
Can be done at home
Used for rapid testing
New HIV infections take from weeks to be detectable by this test
Test for the presence of HIV antibodies and antigens
Sample for test can be either blood or saliva
Can be done as a rapid test
Recommended to be done in a lab
New HIV infections take from 2-6 weeks to be detectable by this test
Test is looking specifically for HIV
Sample for testing is blood
It is the fastest way to detect HIV
New HIV infections take from days to be detectable by this test
Used for high risk exposure and or risk for exposure with symptoms of early HIV infection
CDC (2016)

6. “Summary Health Statistics for U. S
“Summary Health Statistics for U. S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey 2012” (CDC, 2014)
Reveals very low HIV Testing Rates, of 234,921 adults 18 years of age and older:
Ever tested vs. Never tested
Percent distribution2 (standard error)
35% have been tested for HIV at least one time
65% never tested for HIV
CDC (2014)

7. Methodology Used in Survey
Data Limitations
Participants
Procedures
Samples of households were surveyed across the country
Civilians (Noninstitutionalized)
Adults of 18 years of age and over
Questionnaires for this topic self report of: ever tested or never having been tested for HIV
Surveys performed by trained staff from the U. S. Census Bureau
Sample size included 32 states & D. C.
Sample adult weights are used in estimates to represent all persons
Surveys included demographic, socioeconomic and other characteristic information
Samples of populations are subject to sampling errors as all cannot be represented
Different format was used in 2012
Missing data is possible
CDC (2014)

8. CDC (2014) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_260.pdf

9. CDC (2014) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_260.pdf
Alarming High Rates of U. S. Citizens that have Never Been Tested for HIV
CDC (2014)

10. CDC (2014) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_260.pdf

11. Conclusion
In U. S. there is a huge opportunity to reduce new HIV infection rates
Getting tested and treated if HIV+ will greatly reduce transmission rates of new infections
With 1.2 million people living with HIV and only 1 in 8 knowing they have HIV getting everyone tested is an urgent step in eliminating HIV (CDC, 2016)
HIV is treatable and can have the same life expectancy as someone without HIV if detected early and treated
Treatment cannot begin without first getting tested

12. REFERENCES
Bing.com Images. (2016). Clip Art retrieved from
CDC. (2016). HIV in the United States: at a Glance. Retrieved from
CDC. (2014). Summary Health Statistics for U. S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey: Retrieved from