Researchers unveil instances of missed HIV diagnoses

A study conducted by the University of Cincinnati (UC) and sponsored in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that numerous hospitals have failed to provide patients with early HIV diagnoses despite having the means and opportunities to do so.

The research involved a review of patient records for 276 recently diagnosed HIV cases from various hospitals in the U.S. In a total of 187 instances, hospitals apparently missed out on opportunities to provide these diagnoses without the use of formal HIV testing methods, according to the news source.

Michael Lyons, Ph.D., who served as a guest editor on the Annals of Emergency Medication publication that included this study, emphasized the importance of proper HIV testing while expressing puzzlement at the many missed opportunities for early diagnosis.

"HIV testing is one of the most critical parts of the fight against HIV," Lyons told the news source. "Previous studies have shown that patients with undiagnosed HIV often visit healthcare settings, particularly emergency departments, before eventually reaching a diagnosis, but how to capitalize on these opportunities for early diagnosis remains unclear."

The CDC states that in 2007, 32 percent of patients diagnosed with HIV became fully afflicted by AIDS at or within 12 months of their initial HIV diagnosis. The preceding year, only 40 percent of CDC-surveyed adults had ever been tested for HIV.