How do we interpret trends in recent infection?

Recent infections indicate ongoing HIV transmission and early HIV diagnosis. Local context is critical to consider in the interpretation of trends, including: the proportion of PLHIV diagnosed and on ART, HIV program’s HIV testing efforts, and persons’ HIV testing patterns. A change in the number or proportion of persons testing recent may not always mean a change in HIV incidence. For example, an increase in the proportion testing recent may mean: new HIV infections are increasing, program has increased testing efforts and diagnosed more PLHIV early, and/or persons at risk are appropriately retesting frequently.