Characteristics of Children and Adolescents Diagnosed with HIV By Targeted and Diagnostic Testing in a Children's Hospital Network.

Across the United States (US), rates of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis have declined . Despite this, adolescents have experienced increases in HIV diagnosis rates . It is estimated that half of adolescents are unaware of their diagnosis and that, on average, they are infected with HIV for nearly 3 years prior to diagnosis . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine universal HIV screening for everyone over age 13 in healthcare settings. These recommendations have not been widely implemented in pediatrics , where HIV testing is often offered only to select high-risk populations or as part of a diagnostic work-up. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.