HIV Testing: Time for a Change, and the Reasons Why

Bernard M. Branson, MD
Principal Consultant
, Scientific Affairs LLC
Atlanta, Georgia

Videos of live meetings of PRN in NYC are owned and published by Physicians’ Research Network, Inc. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved.



VIDEOTop of page

How to Obtain CME Credit:Top of page

About the Presenter:Top of page

Bernard Branson is a graduate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed his postgraduate training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He joined the CDC in 1990 and served as Associate Director for Laboratory Diagnostics in the Division of HIV/AIDs. He has been involved with HIV testing for more than 30 years and led the effort to facilitate the introduction of rapid HIV tests into the U.S., served as lead author of CDC’s 2006 revised HIV screening recommendations and, most recently, was a key participant in the 2014 HIV testing algorithm updates.

Learning Objectives: Top of page

At the completion of this educational session, learners will:
1. Recognize the outcomes of HIV testing with the old “new” testing algorithm that uses an initial Antigen/Antibody immunoassay followed by an HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody discriminatory assay, and tests commercially available for these.
2. Understand the difference between HIV RNA tests for diagnosis versus monitoring.
3. Reconsider which baseline tests are essential before ART initiation.
4. Be able to describe the effects of PrEP and early effective therapy on HIV diagnostic tests.

CME Information:Top of page


This CME activity has approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for December 8, 2021 as a live activity.  This activity will also be available as an enduring activity from December 9, 2021, through December 7, 2024.

The target audience is all physicians, NPs and PAs involved or interested in HIV education.

This online video and post-activity evaluation are one hour in length.

Accreditation Statement:Top of page


This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) and the Physicians’ Research Network (PRN). MSSNY is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Medical Society of the State of New York designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM MOC Recognition Statement: Top of page

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Disclosure Statement:Top of page

Policies and standards of the Medical Society of the State of New York and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education require that speakers and planners for continuing medical education activities disclose any relevant financial relationships they may have with commercial interests whose products, devices, or services may be discussed in the content of a CME activity. - Dr. James F. Braun, DO (Course Director) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. - Dr. William M. Valenti (Moderator) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. - Dr. Bernard M. Branson (Presenter) has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Dr. Branson will support his presentation and clinical recommendations with the best available evidence from the medical literature, and will submit his slides in advance for adequate peer review.

Financial Support:Top of page

This PRN CME activity is funded in part by unrestricted educational grants from:
Gilead Sciences; Janssen Therapeutics, a division of Janssen Products, LP; Merck & Co.; and ViiV Healthcare

How to Obtain CME Credit:Top of page

Click here to take the CME Evaluation and Post-Meeting Evaluation

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