Abstract
Increasing rates of HIV testing within substance use disorder (SUD) treatment clients is an important public health strategy for reducing HIV transmission rates. The present study examined uptake of HIV testing among 1224 clients in five SUD treatment units that offered on-site testing in Florida, New York, and California. Nearly one third (30%) of the participants, who had not previously tested positive, reported not having been tested for HIV within the past twelve months. Women, African Americans, and injection drug users had a higher likelihood of having been tested within the past twelve months. The SUD treatment program was the most frequently identified location of participants’ last HIV test. Despite the availability of free, on-site testing, a substantial proportion of clients were not tested, suggesting that strategies to increase uptake of testing should include addressing barriers not limited to location and cost.
