Understanding the Impact of Data: HIV Diagnoses, Incidence, and Prevalence

At a glance

National HIV surveillance data are critical for tracking progress against HIV, targeting prevention efforts, and helping people with HIV get into care and treatment to remain healthy and prevent new infections. To use these data, it’s critical to understand three related, but distinct, concepts: HIV diagnoses, incidence, and prevalence.

This is an image showing various data elements displayed from a computer screen, representing HIV data.

Let's look at these three concepts

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2021. HIV Surveillance Report 2023; 34. Table 1a. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/149071. Published May 2023. Accessed May 2024.
2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28 (No.3). Table 1. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/149080. Published May 2023. Accessed May 2024.
3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimated HIV incidence and prevalence in the United States, 2017–2021. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report, 2023; 28 (No.3). Table 7. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/149080. Published May 2023. Accessed May 2024.

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Content Source:
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention; Division of HIV Prevention