HIV Screening Recommendations

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released new recommendations on HIV screening. The Task Force recommends that all pregnant women, not just those considered at high risk, be screened for the virus that causes AIDS because testing has proven so successful at helping prevent the spread of the disease to babies.

Scientific advances in treating HIV have changed the 1996 recommendations that screening all pregnant women was of no benefit. More accurate HIV testing during pregnancy and new treatments for HIV have been shown to be safe and effective for mothers and infants and may reduce the number of infants born with the disease.

In addition to its recommendations about pregnant women, the Task Force also reaffirmed its recommendation that adolescents and adults at increased risk for HIV be tested. The Task Force broadened its definition of high risk to include those getting care at homeless shelters or clinics specializing in the care of sexually transmitted diseases.

The recommendations were published in the July 5 Annals of Internal Medicine. Select to read the AHRQ press release.