Universal versus Targeted HIV Screening in Emergency Departments

The setting of an emergency department poses many challenges for the implementation of an HIV screening program.  While universal HIV screening is recommended, the transient population of an ED makes it hard to follow this recommendation.  Researchers developed a randomized controlled trial to compare targeted HIV screening (for those at risk) to universal screening.  Despite full implementation of targeted screening, it was not any more effective in diagnosing HIV in this population.

 

Citation:

Lyons MS, Lindsell CJ, Ruffner AH, Wayne DB, Hart KW, Sperling MI, Trott AT, Fichtenbaum CJ. Randomized comparison of universal and targeted HIV screening in the emergency department. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013 Nov 1;64(3):315-23.

 

Abstract

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