TO TEST OR NOT TO TEST, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION

We aimed to investigate clinical practice in the offering of HIV tests and subsequent uptake in a central London genitourinary medicine (GUM ) clinic. A random sample (n=330) of attenders at 3 inner-London GUM d epartments was surveyed. Reasons for and rates of offering of HIV test s were recorded and analysed in relation to demographic, risk group in formation and uptake. The results were integrated with the latest unli nked, anonymous seroprevalence data for the clinic. After exclusion of patients known to be HIV-positive or to have recently undergone HIV t esting, HIV tests were offered to 96% of homo/bisexual men, 55% of het erosexual men and 60% of heterosexual women. Comparison with anonymous HIV seroprevalence data showed an inverse relationship between seropr evalence rates for heterosexual men/women (2.5% vs 1%) and rates of HI V test offering. A lack of research into the policy offering HIV tests may have resulted in inconsistencies in practice. An evidence based p olicy should offer HIV tests in line with seroprevalence.