- In support of the NYSDOH AIDS Institute’s January 2018 call to action for patients newly diagnosed with HIV, this committee stresses the following:
- Immediate linkage to care is essential for any person diagnosed with HIV.
- For the person with HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) dramatically reduces HIV-related morbidity and mortality.
- Viral suppression helps to prevent HIV transmission to sex partners of people with HIV and prevents perinatal transmission of HIV.
- The urgency of ART initiation is even greater if the newly diagnosed patient is pregnant, has acute HIV infection, is ≥50 years of age, or has advanced disease. For these patients, every effort should be made to initiate ART immediately, and ideally, on the same day as diagnosis.
- All clinical care settings should be prepared, either on-site or with a confirmed referral, to support patients in initiating ART as rapidly as possible after diagnosis.
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