Denver HIV Risk Score Calculator

The Denver HIV Risk Score is a targeted screening model developed to help emergency departments identify patients who may benefit from HIV testing. It assigns points to age, sex assigned at birth, race or ethnicity, sexual exposure history, injection drug use, and previous HIV testing. The result ranks screening priority in the population where the model was studied. It does not calculate a precise personal probability of HIV infection and cannot diagnose or exclude HIV. Age points decrease across older groups, while male sex, Black or Hispanic identity, sex with a male partner, vaginal intercourse, and injection drug use add points in the published model. A previous HIV test subtracts points because never-tested people were a priority in the derivation setting. These variables are statistical predictors in a screening model, not judgments about identity or behavior. Race and ethnicity are social categories associated with unequal exposure, access, and testing patterns; they are not biological causes of HIV. A low score never means that testing is unnecessary. Current public-health recommendations support routine testing for broad age groups and repeat testing for people with ongoing exposure. Testing is also appropriate whenever a person requests it, has symptoms compatible with acute infection, is pregnant, has another sexually transmitted infection, shares injection equipment, or has had a potential exposure. After a recent exposure, clinicians may recommend immediate post-exposure prophylaxis within the applicable time window and schedule tests based on the test type's window period. Answer as accurately as possible and treat the result as a prompt for a confidential conversation with a health professional. Modern laboratory antigen-antibody tests, rapid tests, and nucleic acid tests have different detection windows. A negative result obtained too soon may require repeat testing. A reactive screening result requires confirmatory testing and should not be interpreted alone. HIV is preventable and treatable. Condoms, sterile injection supplies, pre-exposure prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, regular testing, and effective treatment that achieves viral suppression all reduce transmission. Seek urgent clinical advice after a recent possible exposure rather than waiting for a score or symptoms.