Denver HIV Risk Score Calculator
Assess risk of acute HIV infection using validated clinical criteria including demographics, behavioral factors, and acute retroviral syndrome symptoms.
Sample Clinical Scenarios
👤 Demographics
⚠️ Behavioral Risk Factors
🤒 Acute Retroviral Syndrome Symptoms
Select any symptoms present in the past 2-4 weeks
⚠️For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before acting on results.
🔬 What is the Denver HIV Risk Score?
The Denver HIV Risk Score is a validated clinical decision tool developed to identify patients at risk for acute HIV infection (AHI) who present to emergency departments. Unlike chronic HIV infection, acute HIV infection occurs in the first few weeks after exposure and is characterized by high viral loads, making patients extremely infectious.
The tool was developed and validated at Denver Health Medical Center using data from over 8,000 patients. It assigns points based on demographic factors, behavioral risks, and symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). The score helps clinicians decide when to order specialized testing that can detect HIV before standard antibody tests become positive.
Key Features:
- Validated in emergency department settings
- Identifies acute HIV infection during the "window period"
- Score range: 0-116 points
- Five risk categories with specific testing recommendations
- Sensitivity of 83% at score ≥30
📋 How Does the Denver HIV Risk Score Work?
The score combines three categories of risk factors, each with weighted point values derived from multivariate logistic regression analysis of patients with confirmed acute HIV infection:
1. Demographic Factors
- • Age (younger = higher risk)
- • Gender (male = higher risk)
- • Race/ethnicity
2. Behavioral Risks
- • Injection drug use
- • Male-to-male sexual contact
- • Sexual practices
- • HIV-positive partner
3. ARS Symptoms
- • Fever, weight loss
- • Rash, pharyngitis
- • Lymphadenopathy
- • Diarrhea, myalgia
⏰ When to Use the Denver HIV Risk Score
Appropriate Use:
- ✓ Emergency department triage
- ✓ Urgent care settings
- ✓ Patients with viral syndrome symptoms
- ✓ Known recent HIV exposure
- ✓ High-risk populations screening
Limitations:
- ✗ Not for chronic HIV diagnosis
- ✗ Validated primarily in US ED settings
- ✗ Cannot replace clinical judgment
- ✗ Does not account for PrEP use
📐 Denver HIV Risk Score Formula
Total Score = Demographic Points + Behavioral Points + Symptom Points
Point Values:
Age: <22 (+22), 22-38 (+18), 40-54 (+4), ≥55 (+0)
Male gender: +21
Race: Black (+4), Hispanic (+2)
IDU: +9 | MSM: +22 | Vaginal sex: +2
Receptive anal: +8 | HIV+ partner: +15
No prior HIV test: +2
Symptoms: Fever (+5), Weight loss (+7), Rash (+5),
Diarrhea (+4), Pharyngitis (+3), Lymphadenopathy (+3),
Night sweats (+2), Myalgia (+1)
| Score Range | Risk Level | Action |
| <20 | Very Low | Routine screening |
| 20-29 | Low | Consider testing |
| 30-39 | Moderate | Pooled RNA or 4th gen test |
| 40-49 | High | 4th gen + reflex RNA |
| ≥50 | Very High | Urgent testing + consider PEP |