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CDC: MSM may benefit from frequent HIV testing

CDC. MMWR. 2011;60: 694-699.

Issue: July 2011

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Men who have sex with men could benefit from HIV testing as often as every 3 to 6 months — regardless of risk behaviors — as opposed to current guidelines that recommend annual testing for those who are sexually active, according to CDC officials.

Researchers examined data from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System (NHBS) that included behavioral risk data and HIV testing rates for 7,271 MSM across 21 metropolitan areas during 2008.

Results indicated that 19% of MSM who were tested for HIV during 2008 tested positive, of which 44% were unaware they were infected, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Of those who reported no prior HIV infection, 61% were tested within the past year, of which 7% had a new HIV-positive test result. Of 5,864 MSM with high risk behaviors, 44% were tested during the past 6 months.

“Current CDC guidelines identify MSM who should be tested more frequently according to their risk behaviors. However, among MSM in this analysis, those who had high-risk behaviors were not more likely to be newly infected than those without high-risk behaviors, suggesting that self-reported risk behaviors might not determine which MSM should be tested more frequently,” CDC officials wrote in an accompanying editorial. “In considering revising guidelines regarding frequency of testing among MSM, public health officials also should weigh other factors, including the acceptability and cost effectiveness of testing MSM more frequently and the sensitivity of tests in the early stages of infection.”

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