HIV Testing in the Emergency Department

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review explores data from the past 5  years with regard to HIV testing and diagnosis in the emergency department, as well downstream linkage to care and several adjuvant approaches. We offer perspectives on futures directions for care.Recent FindingsThere are many approaches to HIV testing in the ED. The largest overarching question is that of testing strategies (universal vs targeted, opt in vs out), where data is mixed and there is a lack of randomized control trials. Other studies address different aspects of ED testing, including where to integrate testing into ED workflow, and supplementary approaches such as electronic tablets.SummaryIn the USA, the emergency department plays a unique role in healthcare and is positioned to offer significant benefits to HIV testing and diagnosis. There are many ways to improve HIV testing rates, and we await further controlled trials to determine an optimal approach.
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research