title: HIV and hepatitis C virus infection in the United States: whom and how to test.
abstract: In the United States, of the 1.1 million persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the 2.7 million infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), approximately 16% and 50%, respectively, are unaware of their infection. Highly effective treatments have turned both diseases into manageable conditions, and in the case of hepatitis C, a disease that can be cured. Early diagnosis is imperative so that infected persons can take measures to stay healthy, get into care, benefit from therapy, and reduce the risk of transmission. In this report, we review current recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Preventive Services Task Force on whom to screen for HIV and HCV infections, and recommendations from the CDC, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute on how to test for these infections.
authors.affiliation: Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, University of California, Berkeley, Washington, D.C. Campus.
authors.forename: Nivedha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Panneer
authors.affiliation: Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, University of California, Berkeley, Washington, D.C. Campus.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lontok
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.
authors.forename: Bernard M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Branson
authors.affiliation: Viral Hepatitis Laboratory Diagnostics, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Chong-Gee
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.affiliation: Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.affiliation: New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, Albany.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington Public Health-Seattle & King County HIV/STD Program, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Joanne D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Stekler
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Jamaica Plain.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeMaria
authors.affiliation: Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, University of California, Berkeley, Washington, D.C. Campus.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
keywords: HCV; HIV; hepatitis C virus; nucleic acid test; testing algorithm