title: Provision of test results and posttest counseling at STD clinics in 24 health departments: U.S., 2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined the demographic and HIV test characteristics of tests conducted in CDC-funded sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics with provision of test results and posttest counseling.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used CDC's HIV Counseling and Testing System data from 2007 for the 24 U.S. health departments that reported test-level data from STD clinics. We calculated and analyzed newly identified HIV positivity and the percentage of tests with provision of test results and posttest counseling (provision of posttest counseling), by demographic and HIV-related characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 372,757 tests conducted among people without a previous HIV diagnosis by self-report, provision of posttest counseling was documented for 191,582 (51.4%) HIV tests overall and 1,922 (71.2%) newly identified HIV-positive test results. At these STD clinics, provision of posttest counseling varied by HIV serostatus, age, race/ethnicity, test type, and risk category; however, documentation of posttest counseling was missing for more than 20% of tests. The newly identified HIV positivity among all testers was 0.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One of the main goals of HIV counseling and testing is to inform people of their HIV status, because knowledge of one's HIV-positive serostatus can result in a reduction in risk behaviors and allow the person to access HIV medical care and treatment. STD clinics offering HIV testing may need to further their emphasis on increasing the proportion of clients who are provided posttest counseling and on improving documentation of this information.
authors: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. eqb5@cdc.gov
authors: Elin
authors: E
authors: Begley
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: VanHandel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult