What should be done regarding HIV rescreening for individuals who have not been at increased risk since testing negative?

Routine rescreening for individuals who have tested negative for HIV and have not been at increased risk is not necessary. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that people who are at low risk for HIV do not require frequent rescreening. This guideline is based on the understanding that if individuals maintain low-risk behavior, the likelihood of new HIV infections is significantly reduced.

In practice, the determination of someone's risk status plays a crucial role in deciding the frequency of rescreening. Those identified as being at higher risk—such as individuals with multiple sexual partners, those who engage in injection drug use, or individuals with a partner known to be HIV positive—would indeed require more frequent rescreening, typically at least annually. However, for individuals who consistently engage in low-risk behaviors, routine rescreening is viewed as unnecessary and not beneficial to clinical outcomes, thereby conserving resources and focusing preventive measures where they are most needed.