Joore IK, Op de Coul ELM, Bom BCJ, van Sighem AI, Geerlings SE, Prins JM, van Bergen JEAM. Proactive HIV testing required. Huisarts Wet 2017;60(1):24-6.
Approximately 1000 patients are diagnosed with HIV in the Netherlands annually. In 2014, 44% of newly diagnosed patients presented relatively late in the disease course. Early detection and treatment of HIV infection is beneficial not only for the individual but also for public health. Thus early detection is essential, but to date HIV testing of high-risk groups has not halted the progress of the epidemic in the Netherlands. Two new strategies have been proposed, besides the testing of risk groups: 1) offering HIV testing to all individuals with HIV indicator conditions, and 2) routinely offering HIV testing in primary care settings where the HIV prevalence exceeds 2/1000 residents between 15 and 59 years. The advantage of both strategies is that HIV testing is not associated with risky sexual behaviour or with ethnicity, which could contribute to testing acceptance.