National HIV Testing Day — June 27, 2016 | MMWR

National HIV Testing Day — June 27, 2016 | MMWR

MMWR Weekly Vol. 65, No. 24 June 24, 2016

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National HIV Testing Day — June 27, 2016

Weekly / June 24, 2016 / 65(24);613

National HIV Testing Day (http://www.cdc.gov/features/HIVtesting), June 27, highlights the importance of testing in detecting, treating, and preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Awareness of HIV infection through HIV testing is the first step to prevention, health care, and social services that improve quality of life and length of survival (1). CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) monitors behaviors among populations at risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV infection. In 2012, NHBS data indicated that 9% of persons who inject drugs tested positive for HIV, and among those persons, 36% were unaware of their infection before testing (2). In 2013, 2% of heterosexuals at increased risk for HIV infection tested positive for HIV, and among those, 44% were unaware of their infection before testing (3). In 2014, among 22% of men who have sex with men who tested positive for HIV, 25% were unaware of their infection before testing (4).

Basic HIV testing information for consumers (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/testing.html) and health professionals (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing), and CDC guidelines for HIV testing of serum (http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/testing/laboratorytests.html) are available online.

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References

1. Bradley H, Hall HI, Wolitski RJ, et al. Vital signs: HIV diagnosis, care, and treatment among persons living with HIV—United States, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2014;63:1113–7.PubMed
2. CDC. HIV infection, risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among persons who inject drugs. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2015.http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-HSSR_NHBS_PWID_2012.pdf
3. CDC. HIV infection, risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among heterosexuals at increased risk of HIV infection. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2013.http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-hssr_nhbs_het_2013.pdf
4. CDC. HIV infection risk, prevention, and testing behaviors among men who have sex with men. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2014.http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-hssr-nhbs-msm-2014.pdf

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Suggested citation for this article: National HIV Testing Day — June 27, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:613. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6524a1.