Characteristics of patients who accept and decline ED rapid HIV testing.

Purpose: Understanding differences between patients who accept and decline HIV testing is important for developing methods to reduce decliner rates among patients at risk for undiagnosed HIV. The objectives of this study were to determine the rates of acceptance and reasons for declining, and to determine if differences exist in patient or visit characteristics between those who accept and decline testing.

Basic Procedures: This was a retrospective medical record review of all patients offered an emergency department (ED) HIV test from 11/1/11 to 10/31/12.