RAND Texas AIDS and HIV Background Information

RAND Texas HIV and AIDS Statistics provides the count of both HIV and AIDs, which are a single disease rather than two separate diseases. An individual may be diagnosed with HIV infection but not meet the criteria of an AIDS case for several years.

The two tables contain duplications. Those initially diagnosed with the disease already having progressed to AIDS will appear in the same year on both tables. Those diagnosed with HIV only in one year on the HIV table may be diagnosed with AIDS in a later year and show on the AIDS table.

The criteria for an AIDS case has changed over time. Prior to 1993, the presence of HIV infection and one of several opportunistic infections constituted the classification of a case as AIDS. In 1993, the case definition changed to include CD4 Lymphocyte counts and percentages. CD4 are white blood cells that are a m