A PROFILE OF HIV TESTING IN VICTORIA TO THE END OF 1993

Examination of testing patterns for human immunodeficiency virus (HN) in a population is important because it affects interpretation of surv eillance data on new HIV diagnoses and can guide the targeting and eva luation of campaigns to encourage appropriate antibody testing. This r eport describes a relatively inexpensive mechanism of collecting infor mation on who is being tested for HIV in Victoria (other than at the B lood Bank). The annual number of HIV tests performed in Victoria incre ased steadily throughout the 1980s but the rate of increase slowed in the early 1990s. By 1993, women accounted for almost half of HIV tests , although they made up only 8 per cent of positive tests. There were marked differences in the volume of testing and testing profiles of di fferent laboratories. The information available on personal risk categ ory and the reasons for HIV tests show that many people of low risk ar e tested, although conclusions are limited by inadequate information e licited or provided by many requesting doctors. For better information on what is occurring with respect to HN testing, the fundamental requ irement is better compliance from requesting doctors in supplying basi c information on who they test and why.