Not just for specialists

Britain's Department of Health has recently introduced revised guidelines for pre-test discussion on HIV antibody testing.1 These have been circulated to all doctors, district general managers and chief executives of NHS trusts. The guidelines update the first booklet (1985),2 which led to most HIV tests being offered at genitourinary medicine clinics and few being done in general medical care.3

The new guidelines confirm that named testing for HIV infection should only be undertaken with informed consent, and that individuals should have information about HIV transmission, the significance of a positive and negative result, and be able to discuss their particular needs and concerns. They also advise that discussion and testing should now be part of …