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CDC Outlines Two Testing Options for HIV amid Pandemic

Molecular Testing Labs in Vancouver, Washington, provides accessible laboratory solutions to universities, public health organizations, and private healthcare companies. Recently, Molecular Testing Labs was mentioned in a letter posted on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) related to testing for HIV during the pandemic.

With HIV prevention still an issue, the letter written by two high-ranking officials at the CDC instructs clinics of preventive measures, including information as to alternative testing methods. As it stands, some clinics have had to “reduce hours, eliminate or reallocate staff resources, or temporarily close,” although they have provided phone triage and tele-health services.

HIV preventive services are still important almost 40 years after the start of the AIDS epidemic. The letter published on the CDC site stated that labs should be testing patients quarterly for HIV in addition to providing lab-only visits for HIV infection assessments.

The CDC says clinics have two other options for patient testing. The first is an HIV and sexually-transmitted infection home testing kit, which may be covered by insurance and can be purchased by most clinics. The second option is a swab test. However, these self-tests are not recommended because of their lower sensitivity and inability to detect recent infections.