About Us
In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued Revised Recommendations for HIV Screening of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Healthcare Settings. The recommendations called for HIV screening for patients aged 13 to 64 years in all healthcare settings. The recommendations intended to address the persistently high estimates of undiagnosed or late diagnosed HIV infection.
The Test Texas HIV Coalition was formed in September 2008.
The mission: To identify and create a statewide comprehensive network of HIV experts and stakeholders to promote HIV screening in healthcare settings throughout the state.
The purpose: To bring stakeholders together to build capacity of providers to implement the recommendations and provide increased access to resources and technical assistance to help providers make the 2006 CDC recommendations a standard of care.
This website was designed to assist healthcare providers like you. You will find information about the evidence base associated with routine HIV screening, training resources, curricula, and links to agencies in Texas that can help you and your organization as you begin to make HIV screening a routine part of health care.
We strive to support a coalition that is as vibrant and diverse as Texas and have invited healthcare professionals from a variety of perspectives to join us. Please consider joining in this effort. Use the resources available to you on the site. Share the resources with your colleagues. Support the expansion of routine HIV screening in your organization. Support routine HIV screening in your field of medicine by talking about it and sharing this website.
Need more information? Email TestTexas@dshs.texas.gov or call the Texas Department of State Health Services, HIV/STD Prevention and Care Services Unit at 737-255-4300.
Our Impact
The Department of State Health Services HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch Routine Screening Program has supported routine HIV screening as a standard of care in a variety of settings. Beginning in October 2008 through March 2015 our partners performed 1,090,524 HIV tests and identified 10,267 persons living with HIV. Each time a person is diagnosed with HIV is an opportunity to link them into medical care and other services and to educate and potentially decrease the number of new HIV infections.
We support screening efforts in hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers, primary health care, and correctional health settings in areas of Texas with the highest prevalence of HIV.