Evaluation of HIV testing in Sweden, 1985-1991.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the extent and outcome of HIV testing in Sweden.

DESIGN

Data from screening programmes, laboratory and clinical reports were compared and a national survey on HIV testing was performed.

RESULTS

The proportion found to be positive in screening of blood donors, pregnant women and sexually transmitted disease patients were approximately 1/100,000, 1/10,000 and 1-2/1000, respectively. One-quarter of the men and one-third of the women in Sweden aged 16-74 years reported that they had been tested for HIV at least once.

CONCLUSION

There is a high cost involved in detecting HIV-infected individuals through general testing. This cost can be justified if we believe that awareness of an infection substantially reduces the risk of further transmission.