Rapid Diagnostic Testing for HIV:
Clinical Implications of a New Diagnostic Tool

Sindy M. Paul, MD, MPH, Evan M. Cadoff, MD, and Eugene Martin, PhD

The worldwide HIV pandemic has been devastating. Through the end of 2003 an estimated 40 million people were living with HIV/AIDS. Approximately 14,000 people are thought to be infected daily; over 5 million people became infected and nearly 3 million died of AIDS in 2003.^1,2 In the United States between 850,000 and 900,000 individuals are living with HIV, including 180,000 to 280,000 who do not know that they are infected. An estimated 40,000 new infections occur each year.^3,4

New Jersey is a high prevalence state, ranking 5^th in the United States in cumulative reported AIDS cases, third in cumulative reported pediatric AIDS cases, and having the largest proportion of women among its cumulative reported AIDS cases.² At the end of 2005, 32,885 people were living with HIV or AIDS in New Jersey.⁵