inPractice® - HIV Testing in Older Patients

CDC recommends that all patients 13-64 years of age be offered HIV testing at least once as part of routine clinical practice, unless the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infection in the target population is < 0.1% (Management Guidelines)^{[Branson 2006]}
US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all adolescents and adults 15-65 years of age should be screened for HIV and that younger adolescents and older adults at increased risk should also be screened (Management Guidelines)^{[USPSTF HIV Screening]}
Routine rather than risk-based HIV testing is especially relevant to older individuals as many are unaware of their risk for HIV or are reluctant to discuss it with others^{[Grabar 2006; Paul 2007; Farrell 2012]}