Testing for HIV

The first of the United Nations’ 90-90-90 targets to end the HIV epidemic is for 90% of people living with HIV to learn their HIV status. HIV testing is therefore essential to achieving “the first 90”.

Around 21% of people with HIV are unaware of their infection. The only way to determine a person’s HIV status is for them to have an HIV test.

In many countries, critical gaps exist in HIV services, including prevention, testing and treatment. These efforts often fail to reach the people at greatest risk – namely adolescent girls and young women, men, and key population groups including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and people in prison or closed settings.

WHO is supporting countries to address gaps in the cascade of prevention, testing and treatment services. Renewed efforts to improve prevention and testing services and high-quality, well-adhered-to treatment and care for all are needed to reach the “fast-track” goals by 2020.

The past decade has seen a rapid expansion of HIV testing and treatment services. Innovative approaches have been developed and introduced to expand HIV testing services: low-cost rapid diagnostic tests have enabled testing at clinics, in communities and in homes. Additionally, more lay testers have been trained to help expand access to HIV testing in community settings.