Open access clinic providing HIV-I antibody results on day of testing: the first twelve months.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the sociodemographic profile, risk category, and prevalence of HIV-I infection among people attending a clinic providing counselling, medical advice, and results of HIV-I antibody testing on the day of consultation; to determine the stage of infection and peripheral blood CD4 cell count among attenders with detectable HIV-I antibodies.


METHODS
Analysis of prospectively collected data for the 12 months from March 1989.


METHODS
Same day testing clinic run by the HIV/AIDS team at an urban teaching hospital.


METHODS
561 consecutive people choosing to attend and proceeding to HIV-I testing.


RESULTS
The demand for the service caused it to run to capacity within six months. The median age of those attending was 28 years and 65% (364 patients) were male. The overall prevalence of HIV-I infection was 3.9% (22 patients). The greatest prevalence was in men reporting their primary risk as homosexual contact (11.9%, 13/109). The median CD4 cell count in the 22 patients who had detectable HIV-I antibodies was 0.31 x 10(9) cells/l (normal range 0.5 x 10(9)/l to 1.2 x 10(9)/l). Twenty of these patients were asymptomatic (Centers for Disease Control stages II or III), 14 had CD4 cell counts below 0.5 x 10(9)/l.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a recognisable demand for a service providing rapid results of HIV-I antibody testing in this setting. The overall seroprevalence of 3.9% is comparable with the 5.8% reported from freestanding clinics in the United States. Most patients with HIV-I antibodies detected in this way are asymptomatic but could benefit from early medical intervention because of low CD4 cell counts.
Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London.
S B
SB
Squire
J
J
Elford
R
R
Bor
G
G
Tilsed
H
H
Salt
E K
EK
Bagdades
G
G
Janossy
P D
PD
Griffiths
M A
MA
Johnson
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D015483:HIV Antibodies