HIV Testing Should be Routine for All Patients – Without Exception
Antiretroviral therapy (ART), used in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection, has saved and enhanced millions of lives worldwide. Where access is not an impediment, ART has transformed an HIV diagnosis from “death sentence” to a chronic, manageable disease process.
However, ART’s ability to stop or interfere with the reproduction of virus in the body is contingent upon people knowing their HIV status and being linked to care, treatment, and support. HIV testing is therefore a critically important component of the global response to HIV/AIDS – requiring that HIV testing represent a routine part of patient care.
Without Exception is a webportal maintained by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) as a means of engaging, educating, and supporting stakeholders – including health care providers and affected communities – as we work to promote HIV testing and linkage to care, treatment, and support. It is an evolving repository of best practices and myriad resources.
Because Without Exception will expand over time to include additional features and functionalities, you are thus encouraged to register for updates by clicking here.
"We're in a time where if we do HIV screening, and if we do treatment and prevention right, we really can turn this epidemic on its head and really stop any further damage from the epidemic to the public's health."
— Anish Mahajan, MD
University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Tools & Resources
Click the videos below for insight on best practices for routine HIV testing.
"The rapid test can be administered in the beginning of the visit, and you have the results by the time the patient is leaving. So that has made it a lot easier for primary care physicians to include the HIV test as part of routine care."
— Christine Kerr, MD, Medical Director, HIV Program
Hudson River Healthcare, Inc, Monticello, NY
Guidelines and Other Guidance
- Recommendations for improving entry into and retention in care and ART adherence
- Revised recommendations on routine testing for HIV
- Guidelines for incorporating HIV testing into standard care
Without Exception Slide Presentation (PDF download)
Sites of Interest
American Academy of HIV Medicine
Provider/Referral link
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Provider link
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Prevention Information Network
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Medicare Coverage Center
International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
Provider link
National HIV/AIDS Clinicians’ Consultation Center
Compendium of state laws regarding HIV testing
Office of National AIDS Policy
National HIV/AIDS Strategy
Without Exception was originated and developed by Gilead Sciences, and was transitioned to IAPAC in March 2013. Gilead Sciences has had no editorial input or control over Without Exception’s direction or content since the webportal’s transition.
