The Board of Directors and Council voted to adopt the following resolution on Neuropsychological assessment and HIV infection:
Whereas concern has been raised that some persons who are infected with HIV or diagnosed with AIDS experience intellectual, cognitive or neuropsychological difficulties;
Whereas many persons with HIV disease and AIDS do not have clinically significant intellectual, cognitive, or neuropsychological deficits;
Whereas establishing the existence of intellectual, cognitive, or neuropsychological impairment requires the use of reliable, valid and appropriate assessments;
Whereas HIV antibody and antigen testing determine only the presence of viral infection;
Whereas HIV serological screening is not a sensitive, specific, or appropriate indicator of intellectual, cognitive, or neuropsychological status;
Whereas determination of functional, intellectual, or cognitive impairment requires a direct psychological assessment of intellectual, cognitive, or neuropsychological status;
Resolution
Therefore, be it resolved that serological screening for HIV infection cannot be used to assess functional, intellectual, or cognitive impairment.
August 1991