title: Human immunodeficiency virus testing.
abstract: This article outlines an approach to counselling a patient before a HIV test. Preparing such a patient for the possibility of a positive test, and all it means, is essential. It is also important to discuss with a seronegative patient measures to avoid infection. This feature, which presents the latest information on infectious diseases, is an adaptation of material presented in the Alfred Hospital Infectious Diseases Newsletter, edited by Dr Denis Spelman, Physician in Bacteriology.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spelman
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations