HIV screening in emergency departments: Linkage works but what about retention?

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that in 2016, 42% of people living with diagnosed HIV were not retained in care (defined as ≥ 2 CD4 or viral load tests ≥ 3 months apart in 2016)3 . Estimates indicate that the 23% of PLWH who have a known HIV status (hereafter, known status) and are not in HIV care account for 43% of all HIV transmissions4 . Thus, retention in HIV care has become a national priority to fight the HIV epidemic.