Technical guidance on HIV counseling

Article Abstract:

HIV counseling and testing services (HIV-CTS) are an integral part of the effort to stop the spread of HIV. They serve to inform people of whether they are infected with HIV, how they can lower their risk and the risk of spreading it to others and where they can receive necessary medical care and services. To be effective, these services should be tailored to the clients and individualized according to culture, sexual orientation and level of maturity. Pretest counseling should include a personalized assessment of risk and a personalized plan for reducing the risk of infection or of infecting others. HIV-CTS programs should do more to ensure that patients return for post-test counseling and should determine which patients would benefit from additional post-test counseling sessions. Finally, programs should provide ongoing training and feedback for counselors to maintain and improve the quality of services.

Methods, Management, HIV testing, HIV tests, Health counseling

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Computer-based interview for screening blood donors for risk of HIV transmission

Article Abstract:

A computer-based interview may be more effective than standard written or face-to-face interviews for screening blood donors for HIV infection. The computer-based interview consisted of questions about high risk behavior for HIV infection and symptoms of AIDS. Among 272 blood donors between 18 and 75 years old who completed the computer-based interview, 12 (4.4%) were identified as being at risk for HIV infection or having symptoms of AIDS. None of these individuals were identified using a standard written questionnaire or by a face-to-face interview. None tested positive for HIV-infection. Among 1,536 blood donors screened using the standard Red Cross written questionnaire, only two (0.13%) were identified as being at risk for HIV infection. Blood donors revealed more information about their health history in computer-based interviews than on the standard Red Cross questionnaire.

Software, Medical history taking

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Update: HIV-2 infection among blood and plasma donors - United States, June 1992-June 1995

Article Abstract:

Two cases of HIV-2 infection have been detected in donated blood in the US since the implementation of HIV-2 screening of blood donations began in June 1992, bringing the total number of known cases of HIV-2 infected donated blood to three. One of the two donors identified as having HIV-2 under the new procedures reported possible exposure to the virus in western Africa, where the strain is endemic. The other donor knew of no possible source of the infection. As of the end of June 1995, 62 people in the US had been identified as being infected with HIV-2, 58 of who were able to provide sex data. Of this 58, 38 were male. Of the 62 total infected persons, 68% were born in western Africa. Ten others either showed malarial antibody profiles consistent with western Africa, or had traveled to or had a sex partner from western Africa.

Demographic aspects, West Africa

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