It is a three-letter acronym that strikes fear into the heart of sexually active people everywhere. Not just fear, however, but also guilt.

It’s as though testing for sexually transmitted diseases professes a willingness to tryst, suggesting a side one wouldn’t want others to see. Or maybe the person considering the test is simply too afraid of the results. But whether it is hesitation from the reputation or the results, many balk at the notion of being tested for human immunodeficiency virus.

The Center for Disease Control has proposed a plan that has the potential to save lives while preserving a person’s privacy, pushing for HIV testing to become as familiar as tongue depressors.

No more sweating over whether to make that appointment, because according to information on the CDC Web site, it is pushing for the test to become a part of routine medical care, just like any other routine medical test.

The Plan

According to CNN, the plans for the new recommendations were presented at a scientific conference in February 2006, and the guidelines will be released in June or July.

While these guidelines aren’t legally binding, they will have a huge influence on doctors and health insurance. “

CDC will issue recommendations strongly encouraging all health care providers to include HIV testing, when indicated, as part of routine medical care, like other routine medical tests,” according to the CDC Web site.

By working with professional medical associations, the CDC will promote adoption of the recommendations, and will even “work with public and private payers to promote appropriate reimbursement incentives.” It will also attempt to remove barriers to testing, both real and perceived. The site points out that in some jurisdictions pre-test counseling has statutory requirements.

CNN stated that the testing would still be optional, if one chose not to have it, they would simply tell their doctor, and doctors are required to tell their patients that they will in fact be administering the HIV test. However, consent for the test would be covered in the standard consent forms of the medical care center, and not in a separate document. Annual testing would only be necessary for high- risk individuals.

The CDC has already begun to conduct studies, according to its Web site, in three clinical health sites, and while “limited quantitative data have been generated,” the CDC Web site said valuable information has been attained through the working knowledge of these sites. This information will help other sites determine the best ways to handle situations themselves.

The Prognosis

Jerry Barker, director of Student Health Services, said the student health center strongly supports testing, but he is not familiar with the recommendation for making it part of a routine physical.

“That would sound a little bit aggressive,” he said. “But for people that are sexually active and have any concern at all about — you know, if they’ve had multiple partners — they absolutely should be tested.”

Joseph Stallings Brinn, an NCSU alumnus in statistics and economics, said his insurance company recently had him take an HIV test after graduation.

“I don’t really feel that there is a fear of testing so much, although it may overcome the anxiety of whether or not to get a test,” he said. “The real question is you have to compare the costs of a test to its benefits to society.”

Brinn pointed to the effect this added test would have on insurance rates, adding the stress of expensive insurance to that of those suffering from HIV.

“All of the sudden everyone with HIV immediately will have to pay astronomical insurance rates,” he said.

The Present Tense

As of yet, the guidelines have not been released, and it is unclear how many health care providers will implement this plan. This leaves the initial step toward HIV testing in the hands of the individual.

Student Health Services offers testing through three different methods for students who are concerned or just curious.?”The Wake County Health Department comes in on a weekly basis and does anonymous testing, we do confidential testing and we have two different systems of doing it depending on how fast the person wants it back, how extensive the test is,” Barker said. “We’ve got some of the most sophisticated testing options available in the county.”