CDC Estimates: HIV Diagnosis Timelines and Testing Behavior

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that early diagnosis of HIV is a critical factor in improving patient outcomes, noting that individuals diagnosed with the virus can gain years of life if treatment begins before symptoms develop.

According to guidance updated February 10, 2025, the CDC recommends that all patients between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. To reduce the stigma associated with the virus and foster earlier diagnosis, the agency suggests that providers use an opt-out approach to screening.

Targeted Screening and Risk Factors

While universal screening is recommended for the general adult and adolescent population, the CDC advises more frequent testing for individuals with ongoing risk factors. These patients should be screened at least annually.

Behaviors that may increase the chance of acquiring HIV include:

• The use of injection drugs and the sex partners of those who inject drugs.
• The exchange of sex for money or drugs.
• Being a sex partner of an individual known to have HIV.

Additional guidelines specify that individuals seeking testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections should receive HIV testing at more frequent intervals, regardless of their age.

National Diagnosis Trends

Data released April 29, 2025, indicates that over 39,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States and six territories and freely associated states in 2023.

The 2023 data shows that over 80% of those diagnosed were men, with 66% of those cases attributed to male-to-male sexual contact. In terms of race and ethnicity, Hispanic and Black individuals each accounted for more than a third of the diagnoses.

Age and geography also played significant roles in the 2023 statistics. People between the ages of 25 and 44 accounted for 60% of all diagnoses, while 51% of the diagnoses were concentrated in the South region.

Progress in HIV Prevention

Despite the number of new diagnoses, estimated HIV infections showed an overall decline of 12% in 2022 compared with 2018, according to a report dated February 7, 2025.

This decline was driven by several key factors across different demographics and transmission categories:

• Estimated infections among people aged 13 to 24 decreased by 30%.
• Black/African American people experienced a substantial 18% decrease in estimated infections.
• Estimated infections in the South region fell by 16%.
• Infections attributed to male-to-male sexual contact decreased by 10%.
• Infections attributed to a combination of male-to-male sexual contact and injection drug use declined by 27%.

Challenges in Data Reporting

The CDC has noted interruptions in its ability to report certain prevention metrics. In 2024, the agency paused PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) coverage reporting for one year to update estimates using new data sets.

As of April 29, 2025, the CDC stated This proves unable to resume PrEP coverage reporting due to a reduction in force affecting the Division of HIV Prevention (DHP). The staffing reductions resulted in the elimination of DHP branches responsible for producing HIV incidence estimates and providing the statistical expertise required to assess PrEP coverage. The agency is currently evaluating its capacity to resume this work.