title: Early diagnosis of HIV among men who have sex with men in Western Australia: impact of a peer-led sexually transmissible infection testing service.
abstract: Background In July 2010, the Western Australian AIDS Council established the 'M Clinic', a peer-led STI testing service for MSM. This study describes trends in HIV notifications among MSM in WA from 2004 to 2013, particularly the impact of the M Clinic on newly acquired HIV diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number and proportion of MSM HIV cases with newly acquired infection were compared for the 2004-2006, 2007-2009 and 2011-2013 time periods. Data from 2010 were excluded as the M Clinic opened in July 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between the 2004-2006 and 2007-2009 periods, the number of MSM with newly acquired HIV increased by 50% (23 to 33 cases) and the number of newly acquired cases as a proportion of all new HIV diagnoses among MSM increased from 27% to 35% (30% increase) (P=0.25). In the 2011-2013 period, the number of newly acquired HIV cases among MSM more than doubled to 70 cases and comprised 53% of all new HIV diagnoses among MSM (P<0.05). Of the 70 newly acquired HIV cases in the 2011-2013 period, 30% (n=21) were diagnosed at the M Clinic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of MSM HIV notifications that were newly acquired increased between 2004 and 2013 in WA, with the greatest increase seen after the M Clinic commenced operation. A peer-led approach to HIV testing should be considered in order to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of HIV among MSM.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia, PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849, Australia.
authors.forename: Byron C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Minas
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia, PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolien M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Giele
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia, PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849, Australia.
authors.forename: Sue C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Laing
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia, PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.affiliation: M Clinic, Western Australian AIDS Council, PO Box 1510 West Perth, WA 6872, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Burry
authors.affiliation: M Clinic, Western Australian AIDS Council, PO Box 1510 West Perth, WA 6872, Australia.
authors.forename: Kurt J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia, PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849, Australia.
authors.forename: Donna B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Mak