HIV Testing Beyond the Clinic

HIV Testing at the DVV. Source- NY Times

About 30-40% of HIV infected people in the USA are unaware of their HIV positive status. This amount to roughly 250,000 infected individuals. This has public health implications as infected individuals will unknowingly transmit the virus to others.


Washington DC is a taking a novel approach to diagnosing HIV infection by making HIV testing accessible in unconventional settings such as grocery stores, street corners and even motor vehicle offices. Contact notification of partners of newly diagnosed HIV cases is being employed to heighten the diagnostic effort. Needle exchange programs for heroin users have also been implemented  with infections attributed to dirty needles reportedly plunging by 72 percent. With early diagnosis comes treatment and treatment is prevention.


This is sound public health policy.