The new WHO/UNAIDS HIV guidance advises that health care providers globally should recommend HIV testing and counselling to all patients who present with conditions that might suggest underlying HIV disease.
Additional guidance is tailored to local circumstances.
In generalized HIV epidemics, HIV testing and counselling should be recommended to all patients attending all health facilities, whether or not the patient has symptoms of HIV disease and regardless of the patient’s reason for attending the health facility. In concentrated and low-level HIV epidemics, depending on the epidemiological and social context, countries should consider recommending HIV testing and counselling to all patients in selected health facilities (e.g. antenatal, tuberculosis, sexual health, and health services for most-at-risk populations). The guidance also includes special considerations for HIV testing and counselling for adolescents and children.
WHO and UNAIDS recognize that resource and other constraints may prevent immediate implementation of the guidance. The document therefore provides advice about how to prioritize implementation in different types of health facilities.
The new guidance builds on previous policy positions of WHO and UNAIDS and responds to a growing demand from countries for more detailed policy and operational advice in this area. Its recommendations were developed following a review of available evidence and a broad consultative process with experts and implementers, including submissions received from over 150 organizations and individuals.
Download Guidance on provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling in health facilities [pdf 2.34Mb]
http://www.who.int/entity/hiv/who_pitc_guidelines.pdf