Eleven million people are in line for HIV tests through routine NHS contact

Anyone living in an area where there is a high or extremely high prevalence of HIV infection should be offered a test for the virus when they register with a general practice or have a blood test, new guidelines say.

The joint guidelines, from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Public Health England, characterise extremely high prevalence as five or more diagnosed infections per 1000 people aged 15-59 years.1 Currently 20 local authorities in England (18 of which are in London) meet this definition (box), with an estimated total population for this age group of 3.7 million.