A rapid method for identifying high-risk patients consenting for HIV testing: introducing The Edinburgh Risk Assessment Table for HIV testing

Abstract

Lack of time for conducting standard HIV pre-test counselling has been reported as a barrier to HIV testing. Use of a risk assessment table will identify high-risk patients to whom pre-test counselling may be limited.

The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of a Risk Assessment Table for HIV testing designed in the Department of Genitourinary (GU) Medicine, Edinburgh.

A prospective study was carried out on patients attending the Department of GU Medicine, Edinburgh between June 30th 2002 and July 1st 2003, who consented to HIV testing. Patients with any risk factor had standard pre-and post-test counselling. Those without any risk factor were tested and provided with leaflets on HIV testing.

A total of 3337 patients were tested in the study period and 727 (22%) had risk factor for HIV infection. Twenty-nine patients (0.9%) were HIV-infected. The Risk Assessment Table failed to identify two infected patients.

Routine use of the Risk Assessment Table saves time of the medical staff by only providing pre-test counselling to high-risk patients.