Public Comment Period for Updated HIV Screening Guidelines is Now Open: CDC Dear Colleague Letter

Cross-posted from: CDC | NCHHSTP

Dear Colleague,

December 3, 2024

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed draft Recommendations for HIV Screening in Clinical Settings and is requesting public input until January 2, 2025. The draft HIV screening recommendations are an update to the Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health Care Settings, which was published in 2006.

In this draft, CDC proposes recommending at least one HIV test in a lifetime for all persons 15 years of age or older. These draft recommendations update the ages for HIV screening including eliminating an upper age limit. They also provide recommendations for improving implementation of this screening recommendation, such as encouraging providers to use clinical decision support tools (e.g., automated HIV test laboratory orders to implement HIV screening), recommending anyone who requests a test be tested, and emphasizing the use of a general consent process as used for other routine tests.

The recommendations’ objectives are to diagnose and link patients with undiagnosed HIV to clinical care; relink persons with previously diagnosed HIV to care; diagnose HIV infection earlier; and reduce HIV transmission in the United States.

HIV testing is an essential entry point for services such as PrEP for those without HIV and HIV treatment for those who have HIV. Testing programs have been critical contributors to the 12% decrease in estimated HIV infections from 2018 to 2022. However, a major factor contributing to ongoing disparities in HIV is a lack of access to and implementation of HIV testing and screening programs.

CDC invites input on the draft recommendations during this 30-day public comment period. The Federal Register notice provides information on how comments can be submitted. Documents related to the draft recommendations, including appendices that describe methods used for the development of these recommendations, can be viewed on the corresponding Regulations.gov docket.

We are listening and appreciative of all feedback.

Sincerely, 

/Robyn Fanfair/ 
Robyn Neblett Fanfair, MD, MPH
Captain, USPHS
Division Director
Division of HIV Prevention 
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
www.cdc.gov/hiv

/Jonathan Mermin/
Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH
Rear Admiral, USPHS (Ret.)
Director
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stay connected: @DrMerminCDC & Connections