Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes : JAIDS
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J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. · May 2006
Detection of acute HIV infections in high-risk patients in California.
Given the strong relation between sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the spread of HIV infection, recent outbreaks of syphilis in the United States could lead to increased rates of new HIV infection. STD clinics serving persons at risk for syphilis would be logical sites to monitor rates of acute HIV infection. The detection of acute HIV infection, however, is not routine and requires the use of HIV RNA testing in combination with HIV antibody testing. ⋯ In our study, the addition of HIV RNA screening to routine HIV antibody testing in STD clinics identified a substantial increased proportion of HIV-infected persons at high risk for further HIV transmission, who would have been missed by routine HIV counseling and testing protocols. Further evaluation of the addition of HIV RNA screening to routine HIV antibody testing is warranted.