HIV testing could become routine in new quality standards being drafted up in an effort to reduce transmission of the virus.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently trying to address the risks of undiagnosed adults (18 and over) and young people (16-18) who may be unknowingly transmitting HIV due to a lack of diagnosis and treatment.
Its new draft quality standard, open to consultation until 21 April, suggests people in ‘extremely high prevalence areas’ could be given tests when admitted to hospital. These areas have been identified as
20 local authorities, including Manchester, Brighton, Hove and 18 London boroughs — a total of 3.7 million people.
NICE deputy chief executive Professor Gillian Leng said: ‘There can be stigma and fear around having an HIV test. This needs to change so that HIV testing is seen as routine practice. This new draft quality standard sets out clear, practical steps to help encourage and increase the uptake of HIV testing.’
The draft guidelines have identified 54 local authority areas as being at least of ‘high prevalence’ of HIV, further including Leeds, Birmingham and Newcastle. It is suggested patients — from a population of 7.9 million — in these areas should be offered an HIV test by their GP when registering or when having a blood test if they have not been HIV tested in the last 12 months.
In 2015, around 100,000 people in the UK were living with HIV, including an estimated 13,500 people who were unaware of their infection. In England, 39% of adults newly diagnosed were diagnosed at a late stage
of infection.
NICE said they hope a new testing attitude will prevent late diagnosis.
The final quality standard will be published in August 2017.