CDC officials say that almost half of all new HIV

CDC officials say that almost half of all new HIV infections are discovered by doctors when they are trying to diagnose the cause of a patient’s illness. Dr. Timothy Mastro, acting director of the CDC’s division of HIV/AIDS prevention, told reporters that the new guidelines are vital to facing the HIV/AIDS crisis head-on. "We know that many HIV infected people seek health care and they don’t get tested," Mastro said. "And many people are not diagnosed until late in the course of their illness, when they’re already sick with HIV-related conditions. By identifying people earlier through a screening program, we’ll allow them to access life-extending therapy, and also through prevention services, learn how to avoid transmitting HIV infection to others."

The CDC has previously recommended routine testing for people who are at high risk for catching HIV/AIDS, including drug users and gay men, and has recommended routine testing in hospitals and certain other institutions in areas where HIV is common. The CDC also recommends routine testing for all pregnant women. Under the new guidelines, patients would be tested for HIV during routine physicals, and also as part of the standard battery of tests all patients receive when being treated for emergency or urgent care.