Should All Health Professionals Be Tested Annually for HIV and AIDS? The Whys and the Why Nots.

HIV is still a major global issue in today’s world, with an estimated 38 million people living with HIV at the end of 2019. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV destroys blood cells called CD4+ T cells, which are crucial to helping the body fight disease. By destroying these bloods cells, this results in a weakened immune system, making those infected with HIV or AIDS at risk for many different types of infections. HIV transmission throughout healthcare settings is extremely rare, but it is possible. So, the question must be asked: Should all health professionals be tested annually for HIV infection and AIDS?

Let’s first begin by looking at the “why nots” of the question. Mandatory testing is costly and could possibly prove ineffective. If all 16 million healthcare workers in the United States were tested once for HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV), it is estimated that it would cost between $800 million and $1.2 billion. However, even if mandatory testing was affordable, it may prove ineffective. The fact that a healthcare worker on a single day tests negative does not guarantee that the healthcare worker

1. is not then infected with the HIV virus

2. is not capable of transmitting HIV to a patient, and

3. will not contract the virus in the future.

Accordingly, repeat mandatory testing may be the only way to ensure that healthcare workers are uninfected.

Now, let’s look at the “whys” of mandatory HIV testing. The CDC advises routine HIV screening of adults, adolescents, and pregnant women in health care settings in the United States. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. There is a real advantage to getting diagnosed and treated for HIV early, which leads to better health outcomes, as there are promising treatments for those who have tested positive for HIV. HIV self-tests are increasingly available and provide an effective and acceptable alternative way to increase access to people who are not reached for HIV testing through normal health care services. Rapid test and self-tests have greatly simplified the diagnosis process and allows for faster connection to treatment and care. People who get tested and learn they don’t have HIV can also make decisions about sex, drug use, and health care that can protect them from HIV, including taking HIV medicine called pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) is highly effective for preventing HIV.

There are many arguments for both sides, the “whys and the why nots.” Some argue that it is both costly and ineffective, while others argue that there a true advantage to getting tested yearly. Currently, there is no mandate on whether health professionals need to be tested annually, although the CDC highly recommends it. Research is promising with many things to look forward to in the future of HIV prevention and cure, and only you can decide for yourself whether there should be mandatory annual HIV testing for healthcare professionals.