PUBLIC HEALTH & EDUCATION | ACOG Releases New Recommendations on HIV Screening for Women
Physicians need to make an increased effort to encourage minority women to get tested for HIV because they are at greater risk of contracting the virus, according to new recommendations issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, HealthDay/U.S. News and World Report reports (HealthDay/U.S. News and World Report, 8/1). A separate recommendation by ACOG also says that ob-gyns should routinely screen all women ages 19 to 64 for HIV regardless of individual risk factors. Targeted screening is also recommended for women who are outside this age range but at high risk of HIV/AIDS.
The recommendations, issued by ACOG’s Committee on Gynecology Practice, are published in the August issue of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. The committee also recommends “opt-out” testing, in which patients are told that HIV tests will be given as part of routine care, unless they decline. Neither specific signed consent nor HIV prevention counseling is required under opt-out testing. According to an ACOG release, some state and local laws are not consistent with the opt-out testing and might require additional counseling or informed consent requirements.
The ACOG recommendations are a great step in increasing testing for HIV. However, each individual can take the responsibility to being tested since there is one FDA-approved HIV test for home use available at some pharmacies and online home health screening companies.