Voluntary human immunodeficiency virus testing: acceptance levels and identification of seropositive individuals.
Of 4340 clients of a clinic for those with sexually transmitted diseases who were eligible for voluntary, confidential, serologic testing for the human immunodeficiency virus, 4246 (97.8%) consented to testing; 23 (0.5%) were seropositive. Of 94 persons who declined voluntary testing but who were tested in a blinded study, nine (9.6%) were seropositive. Seropositive persons who declined voluntary testing did not conceal their association with a risk group, while only 61% of seropositive individuals who accepted voluntary testing admitted to inclusion in a risk group before the test. Voluntary testing appears to be insufficient, because 28% of the seropositive individuals were not identified as being seropositive; also, there was a significant deficiency associated with identification of risk at pretest counseling among persons agreeing to voluntary testing.
Lee
J H
JH
Kansas City, Mo, Health Department.
Branan
L
L
Watkins
L
L
Hoff
G L
GL
Bayer
W L
WL
Tegtmeier
G
G
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003219:Confidentiality; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012306:Risk; D035141:Voluntary Programs