Routine screening for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus in the U.S. Armed Forces, active and reserve components, January 2019-June 2024.

Abstract

Summaries of HIV seropositivity for members of the U.S. military have been published with MSMR since 1995. The current report summarizes numbers and trends of newly identified HIV-antibody seropositivity from January 1, 2019 through June 30, 2024 among military members of 5 services under the active and reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to the Army and Air Force National Guard. From January 2023 through June 2024, approximately 1.8 million service members (active component, Guard, and reserve) were tested for antibodies to HIV, and 403 (0.22 per 1,000 tested) were identified as HIV-antibody positive. Of the 403 new HIV infections that were identified during this period, only 10 (2.5%) were among female service members. The HIV-antibody seropositivity rates first reported in MSMR 3 decades ago remain comparable to rates presented in 2023, under scoring a continued value of HIV testing programs. The cost-effectiveness of HIV testing strategies, differentiated by universal or indications-based testing following military accession, may be instructive to further understand the value of current screening efforts in different clinical settings.