[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 211 (Tuesday, October 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 65242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27869]



[[Page 65241]]

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Part V





Department of Health and Human Services





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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention



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HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral, Draft Revised Guidelines; Notice



U.S. Public Health Service Recommendations for HIV Screening in 
Pregnant Women; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 211 / Tuesday, October 31, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 65242]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Draft Revised Guidelines for HIV Counseling, Testing, and 
Referral

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability for public comment of a 
document entitled ``Revised Guidelines for HIV Counseling, Testing, and 
Referral.''

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing on or before November 30, 
2000. Comments should be submitted to the Technical Information and 
Communications Branch, Mailstop E-49, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, 
National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 
30333; Fax: 404-639-2007; E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the draft 
``Revised Guidelines for HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral'' should 
be submitted to the CDC National Prevention Information Network, P.O. 
Box 6003, Rockville, Maryland 20849-6003; telephone (800) 458-5231; or 
copies can be downloaded from the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention 
website at www.cdc.gov/hiv.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The first CDC guidelines, published in 1986, 
highlighted the importance of offering voluntary testing and counseling 
services and maintaining confidential records. In 1987, CDC guidelines 
emphasized the need to decrease any barriers to counseling and testing, 
especially disclosure of personal information. An additional report was 
published in 1993 to supplement and update the 1987 guidelines. These 
guidelines described the model of HIV prevention counseling which is 
currently recommended. The 1994 report, ``HIV Counseling, Testing and 
Referral Standards and Guidelines,'' focused on standard testing 
procedures and reiterated the importance of the HIV prevention 
counseling model and the need for confidentiality of counseling 
services. The recommendations in the current draft ``Revised Guidelines 
for HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral'' reflect new advances which 
have occurred during the last 6 years in the areas of HIV counseling, 
testing, and referral: (1) High-quality HIV prevention counseling 
models are efficacious for changing behavior and reducing the incidence 
of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in HIV-uninfected persons at 
increased risk. (2) Treatment has been found to be effective, improving 
quality and duration of life. (3) Therapy has been shown to 
dramatically reduce the risk of perinatal HIV transmission. (4) New 
testing technologies are increasingly available. (5) Guidances on 
partner counseling and referral services, prevention case management, 
prevention and control of STDs, and prevention of opportunistic 
infections have been published.

    Dated: October 25, 2000.
Joseph R. Carter,
Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 00-27869 Filed 10-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P