An NIH-funded study shows that on-site rapid HIV testing has the potential to increases life expectancy for substance abuse treatment patients newly diagnosed with HIV in a cost effective way. Using modeling, this study estimated that life expectancy would be increased from 17.1 years (no on-site test) to 20.8 years (on-site testing with information on the testing procedure). The cost-effectiveness of providing onsite rapid HIV testing was calculated using a model that took into account patient information (CD4 cell counts, viral burden, anti-retroviral therapy regimen, presence of an acute AIDS-defining illness, etc.), costs for medical treatment, and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) – a measure of both the length and quality of life that accounts for the burden of illness.
![HIV Rapid Testing in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs](/sites/default/files/styles/content_image_smaller/public/blending_hiv-rt.jpg?itok=3HjA95qK)
The study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Institute of Mental Health. For a copy of the study abstract, go to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22971593. For best practices in implementing on-site rapid HIV testing, go to the NIDA Blending product, HIV Rapid Testing in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs.
For more information, contact the NIDA press office at media@nida.nih.gov or 301-443-6245.