Technical guidance on HIV counseling. Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus counseling and testing services (HIV-CTS) have been recommended by CDC since 1985, when serologic tests became available to detect antibodies to HIV (1,2). In August 1987, CDC published the Public Health Service Guidelines for Counseling and Antibody Testing to Prevent HIV Infection and AIDS (3). These guidelines remain in effect today. In December 1991, CDC convened a meeting of expert consultants to address the need for additional technical guidance on the subject of HIV counseling. As a result of that meeting, this document was developed to supplement the existing guidelines and distributed to state and local health departments in February 1992. This document updates the original guidelines to address: relevance of prevention messages; opportunities to provide and reinforce HIV-prevention messages; messages tailored to behaviors, circumstances, and special needs of clients; development of individualized, negotiated HIV risk-reduction plans; barriers to return for post-test counseling; and appropriate, ongoing counselor training.