Letters from the Medical Health Officer on HIV Testing

Read the latest letter from Dr. Réka Gustafson, Medical Health Officer for Vancouver:

Primary Care Physician Letter 27 September 2012

In addition, the Office of the Medical Health Officer issued Physician’s Updates on HIV testing in 2011.

These updates recommend that all family physicians offer an HIV test to all adult patients who have not had one in the past year when ordering blood work for any reason, regardless of perception of risk.

Read the updates (pdf):

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