BHIVA/BASHH/BIA adult HIV testing guidelines

British HIV Association/British Association for Sexual Health and HIV/British Infection Association Adult HIV Testing Guidelines 2020

The elimination of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission in the UK is now considered to be an achievable ambition. To attain this target all individuals living with undiagnosed HIV will need to be offered testing and commenced on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The early initiation of ART, regardless of CD4 cell count, has clear benefit for the individual (with avoidance of morbidity and mortality), their partners (avoidance of transmission by having an undetectable viral load) and public health (reduced community viral load and HIV transmissions). Although significant progress has been made in the UK, with falling HIV incidence and near universal ART coverage in those diagnosed, there remains a significant proportion who are undiagnosed (7% in 2018), present late (43% in 2018), and continue to experience morbidity and mortality and contribute to the ongoing transmission of HIV.

These guidelines include a number of recommendations regarding HIV testing. The approaches described need to be adopted and adapted based on local HIV prevalence data, populations and services. Not all approaches are relevant in all areas (e.g. seroprevalence-based testing). In areas of lower prevalence some approaches (e.g. indicator condition testing, risk groups and home sampling/testing) become increasingly important to ensure all those at risk are offered/able to request a test. However, in areas of high and extremely high prevalence, the other approaches should also be instigated in order to widen the potential reach of testing those with undiagnosed HIV. While cost-effectiveness of testing programmes is relevant for some approaches (e.g. indicator condition testing and high local seroprevalence), it should not be universally applied as the cut-off threshold for testing programmes as we work towards the elimination of HIV. All stakeholders should engage in devising a comprehensive approach best suited to their local situation.

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