Calculate your HIV testing need with the Denver HIV Risk Score. Assess PrEP eligibility, testing frequency, and risk factor analysis for HIV screening.
The Denver HIV Risk Score Calculator helps determine the need for HIV testing based on behavioral and demographic risk factors. Developed from a large multicenter study and validated in emergency department populations, the Denver HIV Risk Score identifies individuals at elevated risk for undiagnosed HIV infection who should be prioritized for testing and prevention services.
Despite routine HIV screening recommendations from the CDC and USPSTF, approximately 13% of the 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States remain undiagnosed. Targeted risk-based screening using validated tools like the Denver score can improve testing yield in resource-limited settings and identify candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which reduces HIV acquisition risk by over 99% when taken consistently.
This calculator evaluates demographic factors (age, sex), behavioral risk factors (sexual partners, injection drug use, condom use), and situational factors (incarceration, housing instability) to generate a composite risk score. Based on the score, it provides HIV testing frequency recommendations, PrEP eligibility assessment, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) guidance. All responses are confidential and for personal health assessment only.
Knowing your HIV risk profile guides testing frequency and prevention strategies. The Denver HIV Risk Score objectively identifies individuals who would benefit from more frequent testing and PrEP. Many people at substantial risk are unaware of their risk level or the availability of highly effective prevention (PrEP reduces HIV risk by >99%).
Denver HIV Risk Score: Demographic: Male sex (+1), Age 18–21 (+2), Age 22–25 (+1) Behavioral: MSM (+2), IDU (+3), Sex with IDU (+1), Sex with HIV+ partner (+2), ≥5 partners in 6mo (+1), Recent STI (+1), Transactional sex (+2), Inconsistent condoms (+1) Situational: Homelessness (+1), Incarceration (+1) Risk: Low (0–2), Moderate (3–5), High (6–8), Very High (9+)
Result: Denver Score: 5 — Moderate Risk. Annual HIV testing recommended. PrEP discussion recommended.
Male (+1) + MSM (+2) + multiple partners (+1) + inconsistent condoms (+1) = 5 points. This falls in the moderate risk category. Annual testing is recommended, and PrEP should be discussed with the patient as the score exceeds the PrEP eligibility threshold of 4.
Approximately 1.2 million people in the US live with HIV, and about 13% are undiagnosed. Late diagnosis is associated with worse outcomes: patients diagnosed with CD4 <200 have 10× higher mortality in the first year. Targeted screening using tools like the Denver HIV Risk Score can identify high-risk individuals who might otherwise not seek testing.
Since FDA approval of TDF/FTC (Truvada) for PrEP in 2012, and cabotegravir injections (Apretude) in 2021, HIV prevention has been transformed. PrEP reduces HIV acquisition by >99% for sexual exposure and >74% for injection drug use. Despite this, only ~25% of eligible individuals are currently on PrEP, representing a massive gap in prevention coverage. The Denver score can help identify PrEP candidates.
The PARTNER and PARTNER2 studies conclusively demonstrated that HIV-positive individuals with sustained viral suppression (<200 copies/mL) do not transmit HIV to sexual partners. This landmark finding — summarized as U=U (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) — has been endorsed by the CDC, NIH, and every major medical society. Treatment as prevention is now a cornerstone of HIV control strategies worldwide.
The Denver HIV Risk Score is a validated clinical tool developed from a multicenter study of 5,883 patients to identify individuals at elevated risk for undiagnosed HIV infection. It uses behavioral and demographic risk factors to generate a composite score that predicts the likelihood of a positive HIV test.
The CDC recommends all adults aged 13–64 be tested at least once. More frequent testing (annually or every 3–6 months) is recommended for those with elevated risk factors: MSM, injection drug users, individuals with multiple partners, those with recent STIs, and anyone with an HIV-positive partner.
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is medication taken by HIV-negative individuals to prevent HIV infection. Daily oral PrEP (TDF/FTC or TAF/FTC) reduces sexual HIV acquisition by >99% and injection acquisition by >74%. Injectable cabotegravir (Apretude) given every 2 months is an alternative for those who prefer not to take daily pills.
The window period is the time between HIV exposure and when a test can reliably detect infection. RNA/NAT tests: 10–33 days. 4th-gen Ag/Ab (lab): 18–45 days. 4th-gen Ag/Ab (rapid): 18–90 days. Oral rapid (OraQuick): 23–90 days. Antibody-only tests: 23–90 days.
If the exposure occurred within 72 hours, seek Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) immediately at an emergency department or sexual health clinic. PEP is a 28-day course of antiretroviral medication that can prevent HIV if started promptly. Effectiveness decreases after 72 hours and PEP is not available after this window.
This calculator runs entirely in your browser — no data is transmitted to any server, and no answers are stored or shared. However, if you need confidential HIV testing, contact the CDC hotline (1-800-232-4636), your local health department, or visit gettested.cdc.gov for free, confidential testing locations.