Voluntary human immunodeficiency virus testing, recidivism, partner notification, and sero-prevalence in a sexually transmitted disease clinic: a need for mandatory testing.
Universal, voluntary testing for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was offered to 17,092 eligible clients attending a public sexually transmitted disease clinic between March, 1988 and June, 1989. In an environment of legally mandated reporting and partner notification, 15,649 (91.6%) clients were tested, 160 of whom were HIV sero-positive. Client acceptance of testing is discussed, and the serologic data compared with results of a federally funded sero-prevalence survey conducted in-clinic. A recidivism rate of 20% was observed among sero-positive individuals. Of 159 contacts for whom HIV sero-status was determined, 66 (42%) were seropositive. It is proposed that, in the setting of sexually transmitted disease clinics, HIV testing be changed from a voluntary service to a mandatory test. Some benefits of this change are defined.
Lee
J H
JH
Health Department, City of Kansas City, Missouri 64109.
Branan
L
L
Hoff
G L
GL
Datwyler
M L
ML
Bayer
W L
WL
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D016358:Contact Tracing; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D035141:Voluntary Programs