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Testing for HIV-1 has undergone significant technologic advances since its first introduction in 1985. Current testing techniques can identify antibodies directed against HIV-1 in whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, and oral fluid secretions. Some of these tests can provide results within minutes to hours, dramatically improving the yield of patient result notification. Rapid testing offers particular advantage in resource-poor settings because of low-cost materials, lack of expensive machinery or laboratory requirements, and diminished need for skilled technicians. It has important application in antenatal and intra- or postpartum diagnosis for reduction of mother-to-child transmission, occupational postexposure prophylaxis, as well as voluntary testing and counseling in high-risk populations. Rapid and lower complexity HIV testing offers the opportunity to improve health care delivery and HIV prevention, both locally and globally, with substantial time and cost savings.