Audit on routine HIV testing in patients attending genitourinary medicine clinics.

The Sexual Health Strategy was published in 2001. One of the recommendations was that all patients attending genitourinary (GU) medicine clinics for a sexual health screen should be offered an HIV test. This audit was undertaken in the GU medicine clinic at Portsmouth, offering a routine HIV antibody test to patients attending the clinic. This audit shows that patients will accept HIV testing when offered, during a routine GU medicine clinic visit. This initiative is important especially in areas with high HIV prevalence to identify undiagnosed HIV infections. Early diagnosis and intervention are important to reduce the morbidity and mortality of HIV infection.