HIV Testing Rates

More Americans than ever before are getting tested for HIV. According to a recent CDC analysis, the proportion of adults who had ever been tested for HIV increased from 40 percent in 2006 to 45 percent in 2009, representing an additional 11.4 million people tested.¹⁶

Increasing the number of people tested is a critical component of the nation’s HIV prevention efforts, especially in light of data showing that half of new infections in the United States are transmitted by people who are unaware of their infection.¹⁷ Linkage to care following a diagnosis allows people with HIV to receive treatment that can protect their health, extend their lives, and greatly reduce the likelihood of transmitting HIV to others. Additionally, research shows that when people learn they are infected, they take steps to protect their own health and prevent HIV transmission to others.¹⁸