Late Testers
Late Testers in Minnesota
A characteristic of the HIV epidemic that impacts both prevention and care services is the
percentage of cases that are considered late testers. Late testers are defined as cases who had
their first positive HIV test within one year of receiving an AIDS diagnosis. An AIDS diagnosis so
close to initial diagnosis with HIV infection represents missed opportunities for both prevention
and medical care. The percentage of late testers in Minnesota is computed using data from the
HIV/AIDS Surveillance System (eHARS) on date of initial diagnosis and date of AIDS diagnosis.
Time of Progression to AIDS for HIV Infections Diagnosed
in Minnesota*, 2005 - 2014†
No AIDS DX
400
AIDS DX > 1yr
AIDS DX <= 1yr
29.4%^
350
29.9%^
31.6%^
33.1%^
31.1%^
30.2%^
31.4%^
300
Number of Cases
Since
2000,
approximately
one
third of all new HIV
cases diagnosed in
Minnesota have either
been AIDS at first
diagnosis, or have
progressed to an AIDS
diagnosis within one
year of initial diagnosis
with HIV (non-AIDS)
infection.
However,
this overall stability
masks
important
differences
by
demographic
characteristics.
29.6%^
34.0%^
27.4%^
250
200
150
100
50
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009 2010
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
*Numbers include AIDS at 1st report but exclude persons arriving to Minnesota through the HIV+ Refugee Resettlement
Program, as well as other refugee/immigrants with an HIV diagnosis prior to arrival in Minnesota.
^ Percent of cases progressing to AIDS within one year of initial diagnosis with HIV Infection.
† Numbers/Percent
for cases diagnosed in 2014 only represents cases progressing to AIDS through April 1, 2015.
Minnesota HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic Profile—Late Testers
December 2015
Race/Ethnicity
Percent of Cases
The most significant differences occur by race/ethnicity, with the proportion of late testers in
2014 among African-born
Time of Progression to AIDS for HIV Infections*
(40%) and whites (29%)
Among Foreign-Born Persons, Minnesota
Diagnosed
being higher than that
2005 - 2014†
among Hispanic (15%) and
AIDS DX <= 1yr
AIDS DX > 1yr
No AIDS DX
African Americans (16%).
100
41.4%^
Similar data for American
35.4%^
Indians and Asian/Pacific
41.9%^
46.7%^
41.1%^
75
40.6%^
43.3%^
Islanders in a single year
42.9%^
48.3%^
48.3%^
had fewer than 10 cases
50
and are considered not
stable.
The percentage of late
testers is also higher among
foreign-born cases
compared to other cases. In
2014, 41% of foreign-born
cases were late testers
compared to 30% of USborn cases.
25
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
Numbers include AIDS at 1st report but exclude persons arriving to Minnesota through the HIV+ Refugee Resettlement
Program, as well as other refugee/immigrants with an HIV diagnosis prior to arrival in Minnesota.
^ Percent of cases progressing to AIDS within one year of initial diagnosis with HIV Infection.
† Numbers/Percent
for cases diagnosed in 2014 only represents cases progressing to AIDS through April 2, 2015.
Age
Differences by age are as expected with the percentage of late testers increasing with age at
time of diagnosis. In 2014, 7% of those diagnosed between the ages of 13 and 24 were late
testers compared to 43% of those 45 years and older.
Geography
Over the past ten years, the percentage of late testers by geography has varied greatly from
46% in greater Minnesota compared to 29% in the TGA in 2010 to 23% in greater Minnesota
compared to 33% in the TGA in 2007. The combined percentage of late testers from 2004-2015
is 36% in Greater Minnesota compared to 30% in the TGA.
Minnesota HIV/AIDS Epidemiologic Profile—Late Testers
December 2015