title: Prevalence of markers for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection in UK military recruits.
abstract: An unlinked anonymous survey was conducted to measure the prevalence of selected markers for HIV, hepatitis B and C infection in recruits to the UK Armed Forces to inform future screening and hepatitis B vaccination policies. During 2007, nearly 14 000 left-over samples taken from new recruits for blood typing were collected, unlinked from identifiers and anonymously tested for HIV, hepatitis C and current and past cleared hepatitis B infection. Overall, serological evidence of HIV and hepatitis C was found in 0·06% and 0·06% of recruits, respectively. Evidence of past cleared and current hepatitis B infection was found in 3·63% and 0·37% of recruits, respectively. Overall, prevalence rates were broadly consistent with UK population estimates of infection. However, HIV and hepatitis B prevalence was higher in recruits of African origin than in those from the UK (P<0·0001). Screening for these infections is an option that could be considered for those entering Services from high-prevalence countries.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Services, Health Protection Agency Colindale, London, UK. Alison.brown@hpa.org.uk
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: A J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Erskine
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult