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AIDS: Serologic Testing for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus—To Screen or Not to Screen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Dennis G. Maki*
Affiliation:
Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, and the Infection Control Department, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
*
University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics—H41574, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792

Extract

The world pandemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is now in its eighth year and may represent the most serious infectious disease threat to world health in modern history. We now have the capability to diagnose HIV infection very accurately by simple serologic means. However, there has been great reluctance in this country to use serologic testing on a wide scale as a weapon in the war against AIDS. It is hard to believe that when serologic testing first became available, there was controversy as to whether blood donors should be routinely screened.

Type
Program Summaries
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1989

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