Why should routine HIV testing begin now?
BRANSON: Well, early HIV diagnosis is critical, so people who are infected can fully benefit from available treatments. Currently, almost 40 percent of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they have already developed AIDS that can be up to 10 years after they first became infected with HIV. We have also found that once they learn they are infected with HIV, most people take steps to protect their partners. The men and women who are unaware that they are infected are estimated to account for more than half of all new sexually transmitted HIV infections each year. Besides, we already know that HIV screening works. Widespread routine screening of pregnant women, coupled with preventive treatment, has dramatically reduced HIV infection in newborns. So, finding out whether you are infected with HIV is the first step to improving your health and the health of your partners and your family. REYNOLDS: So, if a patient is in a doctor’s office or in the emergency room, should they be tested f
