Home testing for HIV: hopefully, a step forward.

An over-the-counter at-home test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been approved and will likely be available soon. It is intended to decrease the percentage of HIV-infected people unaware of their infection (estimated at 18% of the 1.2 million people infected in the United States). Since early and continued treatment prevents disease progression and reduces HIV transmission, testing is the first step toward effective care.