HIV testing should be 'universal' says HPA - Telegraph.co.uk

HIV can now be controlled so well with drugs that, if picked up early enough, there is little impact on lifespan.

However, the HPA found that over half of those diagnosed last year were identified after the point at which treatment should ideally have begun. Two-thirds of the 680 deaths were among those diagnosed late.

Two distinct groups account for about three-quarters of people with HIV in Britain: heterosexual Africans and gay and bisexual men.

Infections probably acquired within Britain (3,640) now exceed those acquired abroad (3,020).

Dr Valerie Delpech, head of HIV surveillance at the HPA, said: "We are very concerned that a large number of people in the UK are unaware of their HIV status and are diagnosed late.

"We want to see increased access to HIV testing routinely offered in clinical settings such as new registrants at GPs and hospital general admissions, in areas of the country where rates of HIV infection are high.

"We are also urging sexual health clinics to ensure that HIV testing is offered as part of a universal sexual health screen at every new attendance.

"Research by the HPA has shown that routine and universal testing is feasible to undertake and acceptable to patients."