Rapid HIV Testing in Emergency Departments—Three U.S. Sites, January 2005–March 2006

In Apr 2003, CDC announced a new initiative, Advancing HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic, aimed at reducing barriers to early diagnosis of HIV infection and increasing access of persons infected with HIV to medical care and prevention services. A priority strategy of this initiative is to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care. In Apr 2004, HIV testing was implemented in one emergency department (ED) in Los Angeles, CA, and one in New York, NY, to determine the feasibility and acceptability of offering rapid HIV testing as a routine part of health care in EDs. A CDC Editorial Note is included.