This study analyzed data from 2009 on newly reported HIV cases and their sexual partners in Dallas County, Texas. Of the 530 sexual partners tested who were contacts of people newly diagnosed with HIV, 74.7% (396 people) were previously aware of their positive HIV status, while 25.3% (134 people) were newly diagnosed. Although contact investigations are still effective, the majority of contacts for people newly diagnosed were already aware of their HIV positive status. Increasing HIV testing and early diagnosis can help lower transmission rates by decreasing the number of unaware infections.

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The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
HIV Status Among Contact of Persons with Newly Diagnosed HIV Infection—Dallas County,Texas,2009
Janina N.Daniels1,S.Hughes2,J.Carlo2,M.Gonzales2,S.Belew2, L.Worthey2,W.Chung2
1 Public Health Prevention Service, Scientific Education and Professional Development Office (Proposed) ,Center for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia
2 STD/HIV Division,Dallas County Health and Human Services,Dallas,Texas 75207
Significance
Background
HIV testing is entering a new era in this
country as lawmakers, health care and
insurance executives, and public health
officials are making changes in their
respective fields to ensure that more
people will know their HIV status – an
important consideration for maintaining
health and reducing the spread of the virus.
Methods
 An epidemiological analysis was
conducted with data abstracted from the
STD Management Information System
(STD MIS).
 Named partners of persons newly
diagnosed with HIV were then
categorized as newly diagnosed
infection (NDI) or previously positive (PP)
for HIV/AIDS.
Significance in Public Health
The majority of studies indicate
persons who are unaware of their
human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV ) infection transmit HIV to
others at disproportionately higher
rates. Thus, national policy has
called for increased testing for HIV
infection not only to improve a
person ’s own clinical outcome
through earlier diagnosis, but to
lower rates of disease transmission
by decreasing the relative number
of persons who are unaware of their
infection. Data from case
investigations of persons with a new
HIV diagnosis should help further
quantify the relative impact persons
aware versus unaware have on rates
of new infection acquisition.
Background – Myriad Web Pro,Bold,12pt
This study was undertaken to determine
the number of sexual partners of HIV-
infected persons who were aware versus
those unaware of their infection status.
Figure 2.
Pro,Bold,12pt
Background – Myriad Web Pro,Bold,12pt
The Dallas County,Texas, STD MIS
database was reviewed, and all
newly reported HIV cases for
January 2009–December 2009
were selected for analysis. Named
sexual partners who were unable
to be located, refused testing, or
tested negative for HIV were
excluded from the study.Located
and tested sexual partners of
newly identified patients were
categorized as previously positive
(PP) versus newly diagnosed
infection (NDI), and the
percentages were compared.
Figure 1. HIV Incidence Rates Dallas County,
TX: 2000 – 2009*.
*Data are preliminary
Recommendations– Myriad WP,Bald,12pt
Results
 A total of 747 newly reported cases of HIV
disease were reported during 2009
among Dallas County residents.
 Of the 530 HIV-positive sexual partners
tested and interviewed, 396 (74.7%) were
PP and 134 (25.3%) were NDI.
Conclusions
The majority of identified HIV-positive
sexual partners named during new HIV case
investigations had known their HIV status
previously (one year or longer). A
substantial number of newly diagnosed
infections were identified through contact
investigations. Subsequent follow up from
initial diagnosis is necessary to decrease
transmission rates of HIV infection.
Implications for Public Health
Contact investigations among persons with
newly diagnosed HIV infections continue to
be effective, although the majority of
contacts of persons with newly diagnosed
HIV infections continue to be those who
already know their HIV status.
U.S Department for Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Background/Objective Methods
 Persons unaware of their HIV infection
reportedly transmit HIV at
disproportionately higher rates than
individuals aware of their status.
 Approximately 25% of people infected with
HIV are unaware of this and cannot benefit
from early diagnosis and potentially
transmitting the virus unknowingly.
 CDC guidelines recommend routine opt out
testing for all persons in a healthcare
setting.
Figure 2. Located and Tested Partners of
Persons Newly Diagnosed with HIV
Figure 3.Located and Tested Partners of
Persons Newly Diagnosed with HIV
by Gender
Figure 4.Located and Tested Partners of
Persons Newly Diagnosed with HIV
by Race/Ethnicity
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the Dallas County
Health and Human Services STD/HIV
Division and the Texas Department of
State Health Services.