HIV in Family Practice: Testing & Diagnosis

Read Dr. Sarah Stone’s This Changed My Practice article about her experience of routine HIV testing in family practice.

Family physicians can earn 0.25 Mainpro M1 credits for completing an exercise on the article.

thischangedmypractice.com

New HIV Testing Recommendations

Offer and recommend a routine HIV test to all adults who have not been tested in the past year, under the following conditions:
  • Whenever any other bloodwork is ordered
  • Whenever a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) test or diagnosis occurs (same for Hepatitis C & Tuberculosis)
  • Whenever asked for an HIV test
Patients with an identified risk may benefit from more frequent testing, e.g. every 3-6 months. Continue to routinely order HIV tests with prenatal bloodwork