HIV Dashboard - Ever Tested for HIV


Overall Status: On track

Whites: Stagnant
Blacks: Gradual progress
Hispanics: Gradual progress

Graph of Percent of Texans Who Reported Ever Having an HIV Test, 2006, 2012-2016: 2006 38.4%, 2012 39.4%, 2013 38.4%, 2014 36.5%, 2015 40.7%, 2016 39.5%, Goal 42.2%

Graph of Percent of Texans Who Reported Ever Having an HIV Test, By Race/Ethnicity 2006, 2012-2016: White: 2006 35.8%, 2012 34.0%, 2013 35.2%, 2014 32.8%, 2015 36.8%, 2016 35.9%, Goal 37.4%; Black: 2006 60.5%, 2012 62.0%, 2013 58.0%, 2014 58.3%, 2015 62.5%, 2016 62.5%, Goal 66.6%: Hispanic: 2006 36.8%, 2012 40.3%, 2013 36.9%, 2014 35.8%, 2015 40.6%, 2016 37.4%, Goal 40.5%

Data source: Texas BRFSS 2006, 2012-2016 
Goal source: Healthy People 2020

HIV transmission is most likely to occur when people living with HIV are not aware of their HIV status. To reduce undiagnosed HIV infections, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that health care providers screen adolescents and adults age 15-65 for HIV at least once, regardless of risk.

The Healthy People 2020 goal calls to increase the proportion of adult Texans who have ever tested for HIV to 42%, a 10% increase over 2006 levels. Texas is not on target to meet this goal:  the proportion of Texans who reported ever having testing was about the same in 2012-2016 as it was in 2006. A higher proportion of Black and Latino/Hispanic Texans have had at least one HIV test compared to White Texans, but no groups have reached the HP 2020 target of a 10% increase.

Routine screening is an important part of the Texas plan to reduce undiagnosed HIV infections. Texas DSHS encourages all Texas clinicians to make HIV screening a routine part of patient care. You can learn more at testtexashiv.org