HIV Testing

Guidelines for HIV testing continue to evolve with changes in testing technology and methods to reach persons who can benefit from these services. The listed documents provide the most updated CDC guidelines on HIV testing for testing providers, program managers; and laboratory personnel.

Guidelines

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Current Guidelines	Some sections may be out-of-date.	Out of date/Superseded

guidelines
Title and Description	Publication Year	Status
Recommendations for HIV Screening of Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men — United States, 2017 This MMWR policy note provides an update on CDC’s initiative to assess the benefits and harms associated with more frequent screening of MSM.	2017
Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health Care Settings Provides recommendations on routine, opt-out HIV screening of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health care settings in the United States.	2006
Laboratory Testing for the Diagnosis of HIV Infection: Updated Recommendations Provides updated recommendations for HIV testing by laboratories in the United States and describes approaches for reporting test results to persons ordering HIV tests and to public health authorities. *New Update* Technical Update for HIV Nucleic Acid Tests Approved for Diagnostic Purposes, May 2023 Technical Update Laboratory Algorithm for HIV Diagnosis, October 2017 This technical update provides information on the use of the Alere Determine HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab Combo single use rapid test (Determine) in laboratories where it is not feasible to conduct an instrumented antigen/antibody test as the initial test in the algorithm. Technical Update on HIV-1/2 Differentiation Assays, August 2016 Supporting Documents Quick Reference Guide—Laboratory Testing for the Diagnosis of HIV Infection: Updated Recommendations, CDC 2018. A two-page summary of the recommendations. Suggested Reporting Language for the HIV Laboratory Diagnostic Testing Algorithm, Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) 2017	2014
HIV Infection: Detection, Counseling, and Referral, 2015 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines Provides HIV screening recommendations for persons who seek evaluation and treatment for STDs.	2015
PHS Guideline for Reducing Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Hepatitis C Virus Transmission Through Organ Transplantation Provides recommendations on testing of living and deceased donors.	2020
Revised Guidelines for HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral Provides recommendations on testing in nonclinical settings. Note: Information on HIV testing may not be consistent with latest technologies.	2001

Implementation Resources

The following documents and webpages contain information, tools, resources and practice examples developed or funded by CDC to support implementation of guidelines

Implementation Resources
Title and Description	Publication Year	Status
Nonclinical Settings
Implementing HIV Testing in Nonclinical Settings: A Guide for HIV Testing Providers Grantee guidance to support the implementation of HIV testing services in nonclinical settings in the United States. The purpose of the guide is to familiarize providers with key programmatic issues and updates that impact HIV testing service delivery in nonclinical settings.	2016
HIV Testing in Nonclinical Settings A CDC webpage that provides information and resources for providers and public on HIV testing in nonclinical settings.	2016
Planning and Implementing HIV Testing and Linkage Programs in Nonclinical Settings: A Guide for Program Managers Supports planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV testing and linkage services in non-clinical settings. Note: Information on HIV testing may not be consistent with latest technologies.	2014
Evaluation Guide for HIV Testing and Linkage Programs in Nonclinical Settings Serves as a companion resource to the Planning and Implementing HIV Testing and Linkage Programs in Non-Clinical Settings: A Guide for Program Managers. Provides information, exercises, and tools to design and implement a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategy for HIV testing and linkage programs in non-clinical settings. Note: Information on HIV testing may not be consistent with latest technologies.	2012
Clinical Settings
HIV Testing in Clinical Settings A CDC webpage that provides information and resources for providers and public on HIV testing in nonclinical settings.
HIV Testing in Emergency Departments (Health Research and Education Trust) Practical guide to different approaches, considerations, and resources for making HIV testing routine in ED care. Note: Information on HIV testing may not be consistent with latest technologies.	2009
HIV Testing in Emergency Departments (Health Research and Education Trust) Practical guide to different approaches, considerations, and resources for making HIV testing routine in ED care. Note: Information on HIV testing may not be consistent with latest technologies.	2011
Implementation of Routine HIV Testing in Health Care Settings: Issues for Community Health Centers Jointly developed by CDC and The National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc. (NACHC), the document provides model, tools, and resources that health centers or primary care entity can use to rapidly launch routine HIV screening during the planning and implementation stages. Note: Information on HIV testing may not be consistent with latest technologies.	2011

Out-of-Date/Superseded Guidelines

To be used for historic purposes only.

Out-of-Date/Suspended Guidelines
Title and Description	Publication Year	Status
Interpretation and use of the Western blot assay for serodiagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infections (superseded)	1989
Testing for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in the United States (superseded)	1992
Protocols for confirmation of rapid HIV tests (superseded)	2004

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