Military revamps HIV testing policy

Members of the U.S. military will undergo HIV antibody testing every two years under a new Department of Defense policy implemented in March that is aimed at detecting infection as early as possible. Each of the military branches had its own policy and timetable for testing until the policy took effect. Testing every member of the military once every two years would allow military health officials to offer antiretroviral medications to HIV-positive individuals before they develop AIDS-related complications. Military officials say that about two new HIV infections are detected for every 10,000 military members each year. Service members found to be HIV-positive are allowed to continue to serve as long as their health permits, according to Department of Defense regulations.