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

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RAPID HIV TESTING
FOLLOWING POTENTIAL NONOCCUPATIONAL HIV EXPOSURE

Because persons who are infected with HIV might not be aware they are infected, baseline HIV testing should be performed on all persons seeking evaluation for potential nonoccupational HIV exposure. If possible, this should be done with an FDA-approved rapid test kit (with results available within an hour). If rapid tests are not available, an initial treatment decision should be made based on the assumption that the potentially exposed patient is not infected, pending HIV test results.²¹