An avidity index of < 80% is reported as indicative of recently acquired HIV infection with an estimated time of crossing this threshold of 155 days [5]. National reporting of the proportion of recently infected among newly diagnosed persons by the HPA takes into account available clinical data

in order to reduce misclassification: patients with advanced infection (a CD4 count < 200 cells/μL or an AIDS-defining illness) or on antiretroviral therapy (including pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis treatment) are assigned to ‘long-standing’ regardless of the avidity index. The laboratory result, which is available at clinic level, does not take into account these additional data and it is therefore the responsibility of the clinician to include clinical and behavioural factors during discussions with patients. Details of the RITA programme PCI-32765 and caveats in interpreting the results are provided to clinics as information sheets and are made available on the HPA website [3]. Over the past decade,

tests of recent HIV infection have been applied in epidemiological studies to estimate HIV incidence in defined populations using a single aliquot. More recently, selleck inhibitor TRI have been conducted on aliquots of newly diagnosed persons as part of routine public health monitoring in parts of the USA, France and E&NI [2, 6, 7]. While results have previously been discussed with patients in the context of partner notification in local pilots in the USA [8], E&NI are currently the only countries where results are available Rebamipide to patients at the clinician’s discretion. We conducted a survey among HIV clinicians and health advisors to investigate the role of RITA in clinical practice and during contact tracing efforts, and to report any patient adverse events. An online questionnaire

using Surveymonkey® (Palo Alto, California) was distributed to clinicians and health advisors via the British HIV Association (BHIVA) membership email list in February 2011. Before the launch the survey was piloted among 15 HIV specialists. BHIVA members were given 1 month to respond to the survey. Questions covered processing of TRI at individual centres, interpretation of results in the clinical setting, patients’ responses during consultations and the role of RITA results when tracing sexual contacts of patients. Some exploratory questions allowed more than one answer. Survey results were collected online and analysed using Microsoft Excel. Results were stratified by centre and job title of respondents. Forty-two HIV specialists replied to the survey from 32 HIV centres (response rate 32 of 90; 36%), which provide the RITA service in E&NI. Respondents constituted 30 consultants or associate specialists (71%), nine junior doctors (21%), one nurse consultant, one health advisor and one virologist (2% each).