Insights from the 2010 HIV Diagnostics Conference

The 2010 HIV Diagnostics Conference brought together approximately 260 representatives from public health laboratories, test manufacturers and federal agencies for a series of test method and technology presentations, as well as policy discussions related to HIV screening in the USA. The meeting was particularly substantive in the context of moving toward a consensus laboratory testing algorithm that capitalizes on the improved sensitivities and turnaround times associated with newer technologies. This article provides a brief overview of several meeting topics, including point-of-care testing algorithms, fourth-generation immunoassays, recency testing and new technologies.