HIV Testing: Time for a Change, and the Reasons Why
Bernard M. Branson, MD
Principal Consultant
, Scientific Affairs LLC
Atlanta, Georgia
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Bernard Branson is a graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed his postgraduate training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He joined the CDC in 1990 and served as Associate Director for Laboratory Diagnostics in the Division of HIV/AIDs. He has been involved with HIV testing for more than 30 years and led the effort to facilitate the introduction of rapid HIV tests into the U.S., served as lead author of CDC’s 2006 revised HIV screening recommendations and, most recently, was a key participant in the 2014 HIV testing algorithm updates.
At the completion of this educational session, learners will:
1. Recognize the outcomes of HIV testing with the old “new” testing algorithm that uses an initial Antigen/Antibody immunoassay followed by an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody discriminatory assay, and tests commercially available for these.
2. Understand the difference between HIV RNA tests for diagnosis versus monitoring.
3. Reconsider which baseline tests are essential before ART initiation.
4. Be able to describe the effects of PrEP and early effective therapy on HIV diagnostic tests.
Policies and standards of the Medical Society of the State of New York and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education require that speakers and planners for continuing medical education activities disclose any relevant financial relationships they may have with commercial interests whose products, devices, or services may be discussed in the content of a CME activity.
- Dr. James F. Braun, DO (Course Director) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Dr. William M. Valenti (Moderator) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Dr. Bernard M. Branson (Presenter) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Dr. Branson will support his presentation and clinical recommendations with the best available evidence from the medical literature, and will submit his slides in advance for adequate peer review.
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