March 24-26, 2010 – Doubletree Hotel Universal Orlando

The third CDC-APHL HIV Diagnostics Conference will take place March 24 through 26, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  The purpose of the conference is to review developments and techniques for the diagnosis, monitoring, clinical management, and surveillance of HIV infection.  Attendees will include laboratorians, program managers, clinicians and industry representatives, who develop, provide, perform or evaluate HIV testing services.

Objective

The objectives of the 2010 HIV Diagnostics Conference are to review findings and data regarding

    • alternative HIV testing algorithms described in “HIV Testing Algorithms: A Status Report”
    • new serologic, molecular and point-of-care HIV testing techniques
    • methods for distinguishing recent from long-term HIV infection
    • clinical monitoring, management and surveillance of HIV infection
    • practices for bridging laboratory and point-of-care testing strategies including model quality assurance practices in CLIA-waived testing programs.

Further details on specific topics for scientific sessions are outlined in the “Call for Abstracts”.

Description

Every two years, CDC and APHL convene a forum for leading experts in the field of HIV testing to review developments and applications of in vitro HIV diagnostics.  The April 2009 document “HIV Testing Algorithms: A Status Report” describes proposed testing strategies for the accurate diagnosis of HIV, incorporating a variety of technologies in addition to the traditional enzyme immunoassay (EIA)/Western blot/indirect immunofluorescence assay confirmatory algorithm that has been the U.S. gold standard since 1989.  Newer tests like nucleic acid amplification, third generation enzyme EIA, and yet-to-be-approved fourth generation EIAs can significantly shorten the traditional window period for detecting HIV infection.  These assays and alternative testing algorithms may improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce testing costs, improve HIV-2 detection, and increase opportunities for HIV-infected persons to be identified promptly for the institution of appropriate care.  The Status Report identifies key data needs for validation of these alternative diagnostic approaches.  In addition, significant changes have also occurred in techniques for monitoring HIV infection, including tests for viral resistance and tropism with substantial implications for clinical management and treatment.

The 2010 HIV Diagnostics Conference will offer an opportunity for persons interested in every aspect of HIV testing to become familiar with cutting-edge developments and their potential application in the clinical and public health arenas.

**PACE credits will be awarded for attending this conference.