In September 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated recommendations for HIV testing in healthcare settings.  The goals of these recommendations are to foster earlier detection of HIV infection, to identify and counsel people with unrecognized HIV infection and link them to clinical and prevention services, and to further reduce mother/infant transmission of HIV.

Join AACC on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, 2:00 pm Eastern (U.S.) time, as we examine the barriers that have limited HIV testing in acute care settings and discuss the role of rapid assays in surmounting these barriers.  Our conference faculty will also look at the roles for rapid HIV antibody tests in screening, occupational exposures, and testing of women in labor.  This audioconference features experts in infectious disease who will address how the updated recommendations will significantly impact the role of HIV testing:

• Corinne R. Fantz, PhD (moderator), Emory Crawford Long Hospital and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
• Frederick S. Nolte, PhD, Emory Medical Laboratories and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA
• Michael S. Lyons, MD, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH

AACC invites members of the press to participate in the conference at no charge.  Reporters can register by contacting Peter Patterson [ppatterson@aacc.org] at (800) 892-1400 x1718 or (202) 835-8718.  For more information on the audioconference program, contact Lisa Dunay [ldunay@aacc.org] at (800) 892-1400 x1705 or (202) 835-8705.

AACC is an international scientific/medical society of clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists and other individuals involved with clinical chemistry and other clinical laboratory science-related disciplines.