title: Feasibility and acceptability of HIV screening through the use of rapid tests by general practitioners in a Brussels area with a substantial African community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess:1) if HIV screening with rapid tests in neighbourhoods with a substantial African community is feasible and acceptable among GPs and patients; 2) HIV seroprevalence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter prospective study with 10 trained physicians. Use of HIV standard test and INSTI Ultrarapid test.
  
  
  METHODS
  MSM, sex worker, multiple sexual partners, having returned or coming from a country with high HIV prevalence, IVDU, Indicator conditions as defined by HIV Indicator Diseases across Europe Study, having an AIDS-defining illness, having had a recent pregnancy or abortion; or presenting other risks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From August 2010 to August 2011, 10 trained GPs offered an HIV test to 224 patients: 51% ♀, 48% ♂, 43% Caucasians, 45% Africans.
  
  
  METHODS
  32% "high risk group", 9% returning from an endemic country, 29% with an indicator condition; 12 patients (6%) refused the standard test. The INSTI was offered to 217(97%), 197 performed with 2 reactive rapid tests confirmed. The seroprevalence according to ethnic origin was 0% among Caucasians and 2.2% among Africans and was 1.5% among patients with an indicator condition. 1087 consecutive consultations of the same GPs were recorded: 42% patients had ≥ 1 inclusion criteria among which 41% of offered tests, that is to say 59% of "missed opportunities". The reasons for not offering the test as recorded for 55% of patients:"not indicated" 44.5%, "no time" 33%, "impossible to propose" 15%, test completed previously 11%, known HIV-positive 4%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standard and rapid tests are well received by patients but were usually not offered by doctors who have been trained.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: A-F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gennotte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Semaille
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Necsoi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdulatif
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chellum
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Evaldre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laporte
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mernier
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ounchif
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gidiuta
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schellens
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clumeck
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D044383:Black People; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: African community; HIV testing policy; family practice; missed opportunities; rapid HIV test