HIV/STD Program
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) HIV/STD Program has the duty to identify, report, prevent, and control HIV, AIDS, and STDs in the State of Texas.
HIV/STD Basics
- Get tested for HIV or STDs
- Testing positive for HIV: what's next?
- Find medical and support services
- Get help with medications
- Learn about PrEP
- HIV/STD educational materials
- Learn more about HIV and other STDs
Healthcare Providers
- How to report HIV and STDs
- HIV/STD testing and treatment guidelines
- Help patients connect with services
- Help patients get medications
- Learn about PrEP
- Expedited Partner Therapy
- DSHS Laboratory
DSHS HIV/STD Contractors
- HIV prevention
- HIV medical and support services
- Routine HIV testing
- STD prevention and treatment
- HIV/STD surveillance
- Funding information
- Training
Reports, Data, and Policies
- HIV/STD Program reports
- Interactive data: new HIV diagnoses | persons living with HIV | chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
- Data requests
- Texas HIV/STD laws, rules, and authorization
- Program policies and procedures
Other Resources
TakeChargeTexas | THISIS | HIV and the Workplace | HIV Cluster Detection and Response | Texas HIV Syndicate | Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) | Texas Black Women's Initiative
Recent News
Texas DSHS Austin Laboratory Offers N. gonorrhoeae Culture and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a Dear Colleague Letter describing two gonococcal infections with concerning lab results identified in Massachusetts (see clinical alert). The first case had a cultured isolate that showed decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone, cefixime, and azithromycin, as well as resistance to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and penicillin. Molecular testing confirmed that the reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone was caused by a mutation in the penA60 allele, and a second case was found to have the penA60 allele through molecular surveillance. Although both cases were successfully clinically and microbiologically cured following treatment with ceftriaxone, these findings are concerning. Clinicians should be vigilant for suspected gonorrhea treatment failure. The Texas DSHS fact sheet Management of Gonorrhea Treatment Failure is a clinical resource.
The Texas DSHS Austin Laboratory is now offering N. gonorrhoeae culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) free of charge to all submitters in Texas. Providers are encouraged to enroll as a Texas DSHS Austin Laboratory submitter now and order specimen collection swabs from the laboratory. Please see full notice from the Texas DSHS Austin Laboratory.
Expedited Partner Therapy
Sexually transmitted infections continue to increase despite years-long prevention efforts to reduce the transmission of undiagnosed infections. Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) is an intervention that has demonstrated successful outcomes by making it possible for providers to reach exposed partners who are unable or unwilling to come to the clinic. EPT is endorsed by CDC and many health organizations, like the Texas Medical Association. The HIV/STD Section Director released a Dear Provider Letter containing DSHS provider recommendations to routinely offer EPT to clients and promote partner treatment. Learn more about Expedited Partner Therapy in Texas.
Exploring an Epidemic: Congenital Syphilis in Texas Podcast
Exploring an Epidemic: Congenital Syphilis in Texas is a podcast series designed to increase awareness and build shared knowledge in the management and prevention of syphilis and congenital syphilis for the public health workforce and their partner agencies who care for people of reproductive age and their babies. The series focuses on key strategies for providers, clinical administrators, clinic support staff, DIS, and the community to decrease the rising rate of syphilis and congenital syphilis in Texas. It aims to enhance syphilis screening, provide timely syphilis treatment, and work collaboratively to prevent new cases of congenital syphilis.
The podcast is a collaborative effort with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Congenital Syphilis team, PHFU staff, and the Denver Prevention Training Center. Listeners can find the podcast on platforms such as Apple, Spotify, and Google podcast by searching “Exploring an Epidemic: Congenital Syphilis in Texas.” Listen to the Exploring an Epidemic Podcast.
Home Testing and Home Self-Collection Guidance
DSHS provided interim guidance on the creation of policies for the use of FDA-approved home testing kits for HIV and Laboratory Developed Tests for self-collection kits for HIV, STDs, hepatitis C, and tests required for PrEP prescriptions. This interim guidance is intended for use by programs funded or otherwise supported by the DSHS HIV/STD Section. Learn more about home testing | Home Testing and Self Collection Guidance
This site contains HIV or STD messages that may not be deemed appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV and other STDs are spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles, messages, and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking such information or may be offended by such materials, please exit this website. Photos on this website are all posed by a model.
- About the DSHS HIV/STD Program
- Contact Us
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- HIV/STD Service Providers - Palestine - Plano
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Galveston
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Abilene - Amarillo - Arlington - Austin
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Richmond - Robstown
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Hallettsville - Harlingen - Hillsboro - Houston
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Beaumont - Belton - Bryan
- HIV/STD Service Providers - San Angelo - San Antonio - San Marcos - Sherman
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Killeen - Kingsville
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Cameron - Cleveland - Corpus Christi - Cotulla
- HIV/STD Service Providers -Temple - Texarkana - Texas City - Tyler
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Laredo - Longview - Lubbock - Lufkin
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Dallas - Denton
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Uvalde - Victoria
- HIV/STD Service Providers - McAllen - McKinney - Midland
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Eagle Pass - El Paso
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Waco - Wichita Falls
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Nacogdoches - Odessa
- HIV/STD Service Providers - Farmers Branch - Fort Worth
- HIV Administrative Agencies
- HIV and STD Testing in Texas
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- HIV and Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Treatment Resources in Texas
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- Border Report Section 3 - Population and Demographics of the Texas-Mexico Border Region
- Border Report Section 4 - HIV Diagnoses and People Living with HIV
- Border Report Section 2 - HIV, STDs, and TB in the Texas-Mexico Border Region
- Border Report Section 1 - Executive Summary
- Border Report Section 5 - Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Border Report Section 6 - Tuberculosis
- Border Report - Table Appendix
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- Epi Profile Section 3 - Texans with New HIV Diagnoses
- Epi Profile Section 7 - Comorbidities in Texans Living with HIV
- Epi Profile - Table Appendix
- Epi Profile - Data Sources and Notes
- Epi Profile Section 1 - Executive Summary
- Epi Profile Section 11 - HIV Treatment Cascade
- Epi Profile Section 2 - Texans Living with HIV in 2018
- Epi Profile Section 4 - New Diagnoses in MSM
- Epi Profile Section 5 - Texans with Newly Acquired HIV
- Epi Profile Section 6 - Deaths in Texans Living with HIV
- Epi Profile Section 8 - HIV Testing in Programs Funded by the Department of State Health Services
- Epi Profile Section 9 - Sex and Substance Use in PLWH
- Epi Profile Section 10 - Sex and Substance Use in People at Increased Risk for HIV in Dallas, Texas
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Contractor Resources - HIV Medical and Psychosocial Support Services Open submenu links Close submenu links
- HIV Services Program Reports
- Technical Assistance
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- Outpatient/Ambulatory Health Services
- Universal Standards
- Home and Community-Based Health Services
- Referral for Health Care and Support Services
- Non-Medical Case Management
- Home Health Care
- Rehabilitation Services
- Early Intervention Services
- Oral Health Services
- Hospice Services
- Respite Care
- Food Bank-Home Delivered Meals
- Other Professional Services
- Housing Services
- Health Education/Risk Reduction (HE/RR)
- Outreach Services
- Linguistic Services
- Telemedicine Guide Resources
- Health Education-Risk Reduction (HE/RR) - Minority AIDS Initiative
- Outreach Services - Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI)
- Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
- Health Insurance Premium and Cost Sharing Assistance
- Psychosocial Support Services
- Medical Transportation Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA)
- Child Care
- Local AIDS Pharmaceutical Assistance (LPAP)
- Medical Case Management (including Treatment Adherence Services)
- Mental Health Services
- Substance Abuse Outpatient Care
- Substance Abuse Services (Residential)
- Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA)
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- Texas HIV Surveillance Procedure Manual
- HIV/AIDS Data Changes 2010
- Medical Monitoring Project (MMP)
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- THISIS FAQ Labs
- THISIS FAQ System Access
- THISIS FAQ Clinical
- THISIS FAQ Event
- THISIS FAQ Follow-Up
- THISIS FAQ Helpful Tips
- THISIS FAQ Transition to THISIS
- THISIS FAQ Workflows
- THISIS FAQ HIV Surveillance
- THISIS FAQ Notes
- THISIS FAQ Partner-Clusters
- THISIS FAQ Public Health Follow-Up
- THISIS FAQ Reporting-Morbidity
- THISIS FAQ Reports
- THISIS FAQ Risk Factors
- THISIS FAQ Syphilis
- THISIS FAQ Case Assignment Field Record
- THISIS FAQ Co-Infection Management
- THISIS FAQ Congenital Syphilis
- THISIS FAQ Facilities
- THISIS FAQ General
- THISIS FAQ Assigning and Tracking Cases-Field Records
- THISIS Training Videos
- THISIS Resources and Forms
- THISIS Glossary
- THISIS Help Desk
- THISIS Training Manuals
- THISIS Tip Sheets
- THISIS Workflows
- THISIS System Status
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- DSHS TB/HIV/STD Security and Database Account Management
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- Ongoing HIV-STD Training and Educational Resources
- Care Services Training
- Core Training
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- Training - HIV Navigation in Texas
- Training - Social Determinants of Health
- Training - Trauma Informed Care
- Training - Health Equity
- Training - Foundations of HIV Testing and Navigation
- Training - Gender and Sexual Diversity
- Training - Healthy Options
- Training - Advanced Motivational Interviewing
- Training - Unconscious Bias
- HIV/STD Planning
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- 700.006 Multi-Month and Special Circumstance Medication Supply and Coverage
- 700.007 Texas Insurance Assistance Program
- PMCY01 Prescription Medication Shortages
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591.000 Limitations on Ryan White and State Services Funds for Incarcerated Persons in Community Facilities Open submenu links Close submenu links
- 700.003 HIV/STD Medication Pharmacy Eligibility Criteria
- 700.004 HIV Medications Ordering Process for Pharmacies
- LIDS 2021.001 Program Income
- 2013.01 Ryan White Part B/State Funded Services in Special Care Facilities
- 2012.01 Overall Responsible Party for TB/HIV/STD Surveillance Data
- 2011.04 Breach of Confidentiality Response
- 2011.01 Confidential Information Security
- 035.001 Model Education Program for use by Employers to Educate Employees About the HIV Disease and its Progressive Stages
- 090.001 Roles and Responsibilities of the Section Regarding Contractors
- 090.020 Model Policies for Handling, Caring and Treating Persons Infected with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (Including HIV/AIDS) while in the Custody, Supervision or Care of Correctional, Law Enforcement, and/or Emergency Services Entities
- 090.002 HIV Client Services Funding Allocation Formula
- 090.010 Contract Monitoring
- 090.021 HIV/AIDS Model Workplace Guidelines for Businesses, State Agencies, and State Contractors
- 120.100 HIV Testing of Pregnant Women
- 302.001 Release of Tuberculosis (TB), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and Viral Hepatitis Data
- 500.002 Environmental Tobacco Smoke Contractor Assurance
- 500.003 Contractor Use of Equipment and Supplies Contractor Assurance
- 520.001 Consultant Services and Consulting Fees Paid by a Contractor Through Direct Costs
- 520.002 Staff Education, Association Memberships, Training Fees and Insurance Payments Using Contract Funds
- 525.001 Enforcement of Year End Requirements for DSHS Contracts
- 530.002 Section Expectations and Provider Rights Regarding the Delivery of Client Service
- 530.003 How to Deal With Clients Who Threaten to Harm Themselves or Others
- 540.001 Sanctions Imposed Upon a Contractor for Non-Compliance with Contracts Involving State/Federal Funds
- 540.002 Sanctioning an HIV/STD Contractor for Subcontractor Noncompliance
- 590.001 DSHS Funds as Payment of Last Resort
- 110.002 HIV and STD Prevention Activities in State Prisons and Jails, State Juvenile Justice Facilities, Municipal and County Jails, Federal Prisons, and Private Prisons
- 130.001 Condom Distribution Non-Contracting Prevention Sites
- 220.001 Eligibility to Receive HIV Services
- 231.001 ARIES Security
- 231.000 TakeChargeTexas (TCT) Users
- 231.002 TakeChargeTexas (TCT) Administrative Agency Data Managers’ Core Competencies
- 231.003 TCT Data Improvement Plan
- 241.001 Administrative Agency Roles and Responsibilities
- 241.003 Subcontracting HIV Health and Support Services
- 241.004 Administrative Agency Requirements for Community Input
- 241.005 Conflict of Interest in Administrative Agencies
- 241.006 Reallocation of HIV Client Services Funds
- 260.001 Care for Children Affected by HIV/AIDS Using State Services Funds
- 260.002 Health Insurance Assistance
- 270.001 Calculation of Estimated Expenditures on Covered Clinical Services
- 280.001 Sub-Contracting HIV Core and Support Services by an Administrative Agency
- 420.002 Provider Selection Criteria and Requirements for the Texas Infertility Prevention Project
- 700.001 Texas HIV Medication Program Requests to Change State HIV Medication Formulary
- 700.002 Rights of the Texas HIV Medication Program to Limit the Number of Clients Assigned to a Pharmacy
- 700.005 Medicare Part D
- 2020.02 DSHS Central Pharmacy to Dispense Medications to THMP Participants
- 2016.02 TB/HIV/STD Section Section-Wide Purchasing
- 2015.02 TB/HIV/STD Section Meeting Planning
- 2012.03 Alternative Worksite Procedure Due to Power Outage, HVAC System Failure and Other Temporary Environmental Factors
- 2009.01 TB/HIV/STD Section Procedure for the Review of New Grant Applications, Grant Renewal Applications, Grant Progress Reports and Technical Review Responses
- 2015.03 Creating E-Learning Products for the TB/HIV/STD Section
- 2016.03 Children in the Workplace
- 2019.02 Encrypted USB Flash Drive Assignment
- 2020.01 Quality Assurance for the Texas HIV Medication Program’s Eligibility Processes
- 410.001 Hepatitis B Vaccination for Adolescents
- 410.003 Accelerated HIV Intervention Program, Addressing the Potential for Recalcitrant Transmission of HIV in Texas
- Repealed Policies and Procedures
- 2023.004 340B Patient Eligibility
- 2023.005 Covered Entity Eligibility and Central Distribution Model Participation
- 2023.006 Prevention of Diversion of 340B Medication
- 2023.008 Covered Entity Ordering and Inventory Tracking
- 2023.009 340B Material Breach Policy
- 2023.010 340B Database Registration, Recertification, and Review
- 2023.011 Penicillin G Benzathine (Bicillin) Treatment
- 2023.013 340B Authorizing Official Back-up
- 2023.007 Prevention of Duplicate Discounts
- 2023.16 340B Roles, Responsibilities, Training and Education
- HIV/STD Security Policies and Procedures
- Laws, Rules, and Authorization
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- POPS Chapter 22 - Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Non-occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP)
- POPS Chapter 13 - Administrative Agency Core Competencies
- POPS Appendix F - CDC Surveillance Case Definitions
- POPS Chapter 1 - Focused HIV/STD/HCV Testing, Counseling and Linkage to HIV Medical Care
- POPS Chapter 2 - Quality Assurance for Focused HIV Testing, Counseling, and Linkage to Care for HIV Prevention
- POPS Chapter 7 - HCV Testing
- POPS Chapter 8 - HIV/STD Surveillance
- POPS Chapter 9 - Disease Intervention Specialist Performance Standards
- POPS Chapter 10 - First-Line Supervisors Performance Standards
- POPS Chapter 11 - Regional and Local Health Department HIV/STD Program Manager Performance Standards
- POPS Chapter 12 - STD Clinical Standards
- POPS Chapter 16 - Routine HIV Screening in Healthcare Settings
- POPS Chapter 19 - Individual and Group HIV Prevention Interventions
- POPS Chapter 15 - Client Referral Standards
- POPS Chapter 17 - Health Insurance Program Standards
- POPS Chapter 18 - Pick-Up And Delivery Of Prescription And Over-The-Counter Medications Standards
- POPS Chapter 20 - Direct Client Services Volunteer Programs Standards
- POPS Appendix E - STD-MIS System Maintenance
- POPS Chapter 3 - HIV/STD Partner Services and Seropositive Notification
- POPS Chapter 4 - HIV Testing in STD Clinics
- POPS Chapter 14 - Client File Organization, Content and Security Standards
- POPS Chapter 24 - Structural Interventions for HIV Prevention
- POPS Chapter 23 - Congenital Syphilis
- POPS Chapter 25 - Tangible Reinforcements for HIV Prevention
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- 2016.01 HIV/STD Section Confidential Information Security
- 2021.01 Appeals Requests Related to the Texas HIV Medication Program
- 020.050 Public Complaints Related to the Delivery of Section Programs
- 020.070 Placement of Educational Articles in Professional Publications
- 319.001 Data Management and Security External Quality Assurance Plan
- 320.001 Quality Assurance of Confidentiality for Internal Staff
- 900.002 Completing the Contractor Risk Assessment Tool
- 2020.01 Quality Assurance for the Texas HIV Medication Program’s Eligibility Processes
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- Records Retention