Evaluation of HIV testing in Sweden, 1985-1991.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of the extent and outcome of HIV testing in Sweden.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Blaxhult
A
A
Department of Epidemiology, National Bacteriological Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anagrius
C
C
Arneborn
M
M
Lidman
K
K
Lindgren
S
S
Böttiger
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology