Rates of receiving HIV test results: data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey for 1994 and 1995.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency and predictors of receipt of HIV test results.


METHODS
Analysis of responses from 19,127 adults in 1994 and 16,848 in 1995 surveyed for the U.S. National Health Interview Survey, using logit models to determine factors independently associated with decreased likelihood of receiving HIV test results.


RESULTS
Overall, 12.5% (+/-1.0%) of persons tested in 1994 and 13.3% (+/-0.9%) in 1995 had not received their test results. Those whose test was not self-initiated were significantly less likely (p<.05) to receive their test results. The proportion who did not receive results was lowest among persons who had sought testing (6.1% in 1994 and 4.3% in 1995) and highest among persons whose tests were required for hospitalization or surgery (24.2% in 1994 and 22.9% in 1995).


CONCLUSIONS
An estimated 2.3 million of the 17.5 million people tested annually for HIV infection did not receive their test results. Alternative measures to increase the number of persons who receive their results need to be evaluated. These may include enhancing prevention counseling about the importance of receiving test results, telephone notification, or using rapid HIV-screening tests that provide results at the time of testing.
Tao
G
G
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Branson
B M
BM
Kassler
W J
WJ
Cohen
R A
RA
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States
D015483:HIV Antibodies