HIV testing in a resource-poor urban emergency department.
In an effort to help fight the HIV epidemic, we offered standard HIV testing to high-risk and symptomatic patients attending an urban emergency department (ED) located in a high-prevalence area. We assessed rates of consent, HIV infection, and linkage into care by demographic and risk characteristics. Consent rates were consistently greater than 50% across the various demographics and risk groups. The HIV prevalence rate was 3% and ranged from 0% to 50% across groups. Of those eligible to enter care 69% attended their first infectious disease clinic appointment. One recommendation to increase the number of people who are aware of their serostatus is to offer HIV testing in underutilized venues, such as an urban ED. The results of this project offer suggestions for future pursuits.
Glick
Nancy R
NR
Division of Infectious Diseases, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, IL 60608, USA. glin@sinai.org
Silva
Abigail
A
Zun
Leslie
L
Whitman
Steven
S
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence