Routine, rapid HIV testing of medicine service admissions in the emergency department.

Objective: We identify undiagnosed HIV among adult emergency department (ED) patients awaiting medicine admission through rapid testing, expedite their redirection to the inpatient HIV service, and improve linkage to ambulatory HIV care.

Methods: Two ED health educators offered rapid testing to patients aged 18 to 64 years from the high-acuity ED area from which most medicine admissions originate. Heath educators obtained consent, obtained fingerstick blood, and performed point-of-care testing.

Detecting unsuspected HIV infection with a rapid whole-blood HIV test in an urban emergency department.

Objective: To evaluate and compare HIV screening and provider-referred diagnostic testing as strategies for detecting undiagnosed HIV infection in an urban emergency department (ED).

Methods: From January 2003 through April 2004, study staff offered HIV screening with rapid tests to ED patients regardless of risks or symptoms. ED providers could also refer patients for diagnostic testing.

The role of rapid vs conventional human immunodeficiency virus testing for inpatients: effects on quality of care.

Background: Rapid testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has improved HIV screening in the outpatient and perinatal settings, but few data report how it may be used to improve the quality of inpatient care. We compared quality of care for inpatients diagnosed in the emergency department via rapid testing vs patients whose conditions were diagnosed via conventional testing during their hospital admission.

Methods: We reviewed medical records to identify patients with first-time positive HIV tests and concurrent hospital admission who were tested via either rapid testing in the emergency department or conventional testing during their hospital admission.

Outcomes of offering rapid point-of-care HIV testing in a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

Background: Delays in receipt of positive HIV test results and in entry into HIV care are common problems in clinics; in public venues, up to 33% of patients with negative results and 25% of those with positive results never learn their results.

Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older at an urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic were offered rapid HIV testing between October 1999 and August 2000. Specimens were tested using the rapid Single Use Diagnostic System for HIV-1 (SUDS; Abbott/Murex, Norcross, GA), and results were confirmed by conventional enzyme immunoassay and Western blot (WB) analysis.

Comparison of point-of-care rapid HIV testing in three clinical venues.

Rapid HIV testing with same-visit results should increase the number of individuals who know they are HIV infected. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of point-of-care rapid testing in three public venues, a sexually transmitted disease clinic, a county jail, and an emergency department. Over 98% of all participants received their results, and 82% of newly identified HIV-positive participants entered care.