HIV testing: increasing uptake among people who may have undiagnosed HIV

Offer and recommend HIV testing based on local prevalence and how it affects different groups and communities. Use the Department of Health and Social Care's sexual and reproductive health profiles, the UK Health Security Agency's annual HIV surveillance data by demographic characteristics and geographical region, and local data to establish:

• local HIV prevalence, including whether an area has high prevalence or extremely high prevalence

• rates of HIV in different groups and communities. [2016, amended 2025]

Offer and recommend an HIV test to everyone who attends for testing or treatment. [2011, amended 2016]

Ensure both fourth-generation serological testing and point-of-care testing (POCT) are available. [2011, amended 2016]

Routinely offer and recommend an HIV test to everyone attending their first appointment (followed by repeat testing in line with recommendation 1.2.6 in the section on repeat testing) at drug dependency programmes, termination of pregnancy services, and services providing treatment for:

• hepatitis B

• hepatitis C

• lymphoma

• tuberculosis.
  
  Antenatal HIV testing is covered by the UK National Screening Committee and is outside the remit of this guideline. [2011, amended 2016]

In all areas, offer and recommend HIV testing on admission to hospital, including emergency departments, to everyone who has not previously been diagnosed with HIV and who:

• has symptoms that may indicate HIV or HIV is part of the differential diagnosis (for example, infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome), in line with HIV in Europe's HIV in indicator conditions

• is known to be from a country or group with a high rate of HIV infection (see recommendation 1.1.1)

• if male, discloses that they have sex with men, or is known to have sex with men, and has not had an HIV test in the previous year

• is a trans woman who has sex with men and has not had an HIV test in the previous year

• reports sexual contact (either abroad or in the UK) with someone from a country with a high rate of HIV

• discloses high-risk sexual practices, for example the practice known as 'chemsex'

• is diagnosed with, or requests testing for, a sexually transmitted infection

• reports a history of injecting drug use

• discloses that they are the sexual partner of someone known to be HIV positive, or of someone at high risk of HIV (for example, female sexual contacts of men who have sex with men). [2011, amended 2016]

In areas of high and extremely high prevalence, also offer and recommend HIV testing on admission to hospital, including emergency departments, to everyone who has not previously been diagnosed with HIV and who is undergoing blood tests for another reason. [2016]

Additionally, in areas of extremely high prevalence, offer and recommend HIV testing on admission to hospital, including emergency departments, to everyone who has not previously been diagnosed with HIV. [2016]

In all areas, offer and recommend HIV testing to everyone who has not previously been diagnosed with HIV and who:

• has symptoms that may indicate HIV or HIV is part of the differential diagnosis (for example, infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome), in line with HIV in Europe's HIV in indicator conditions

• is known to be from a country or group with a high rate of HIV infection (see recommendation 1.1.1)

• if male, discloses that they have sex with men, or is known to have sex with men, and has not had an HIV test in the previous year

• is a trans woman who has sex with men and has not had an HIV test in the previous year

• reports sexual contact (either abroad or in the UK) with someone from a country with a high rate of HIV

• discloses high-risk sexual practices, for example the practice known as 'chemsex'

• is diagnosed with, or requests testing for, a sexually transmitted infection

• reports a history of injecting drug use

• discloses that they are the sexual partner of someone known to be HIV positive, or of someone at high risk of HIV (for example, female sexual contacts of men who have sex with men). [2011, amended 2016]

In areas of high and extremely high prevalence, also offer and recommend HIV testing to everyone who has not previously been diagnosed with HIV and who:

• registers with the practice or

• is undergoing blood tests for another reason and has not had an HIV test in the previous year. [2016]

Additionally, in areas of extremely high prevalence, consider HIV testing opportunistically at each consultation (whether bloods are being taken for another reason or not), based on clinical judgement. [2016]

Offer and recommend repeat testing to the people in recommendations 1.1.8 and 1.1.9 in line with recommendation 1.2.6 in the section on repeat testing. [2016]

If a venous blood sample is declined, offer a less invasive form of specimen collection, such as a mouth swab or finger-prick. [2011, amended 2016]

At reception, recommend HIV testing to everyone who has not previously been diagnosed with HIV. For more information, see NICE's guideline on physical health of people in prison. [2016]

Providers of community testing services (including outreach and detached services) should set up testing services in:

• areas with a high prevalence or extremely high prevalence of HIV, using venues such as pharmacies or voluntary sector premises (for example, those of faith groups)

• venues where there may be high-risk sexual behaviour, for example public sex environments, or where people at high risk may gather, such as nightclubs, saunas and festivals. [2011, amended 2016]

Recognise that not all community settings are appropriate for providing testing services, for example because tests should be undertaken in a secluded or private area (in line with British HIV Association guidelines). [2011, amended 2016]

Ensure that people who decline or are unable to consent to a test are offered information about other local testing services, including self-sampling. See making decisions using NICE guidelines for more information about consent. [2011, amended 2016]

Ensure that lay testers delivering tests are competent to do so and have access to clinical advice and supervision. [2011, amended 2016]

Offer point-of-care testing (POCT) in situations where it would be difficult to give people their results, for example if they are unwilling to leave contact details. [2016]

Explain to people at the time of their test about the specificity and sensitivity of the POCT being used and that confirmatory serological testing will be needed if the test is reactive. [2011, amended 2016]

Consider providing self-sampling kits to people in groups and communities with a high rate of HIV (see recommendation 1.1.1 in the section on local prevalence). [2016]

Ensure that people know how to get their own self-sampling kits, for example, by providing details of websites to order them from. [2016]

When giving results to people who have tested negative but who may have been exposed to HIV recently, recommend that they have another test once they are past the window period. [2011, amended 2016]

Recommend annual testing to people in groups or communities with a high rate of HIV, and more frequently if they are at high risk of exposure (in line with Public Health England's HIV in the UK: situation report 2015). For example:

• men who have sex with men should have HIV and sexually transmitted infection tests at least annually, and every 3 months if they are having unprotected sex with new or casual partners

• black African men and women should have an HIV test and regular HIV and sexually transmitted infection tests if having unprotected sex with new or casual partners. [2011, amended 2016]

Consider the following interventions to promote repeat testing:

• Call–recall methods using letters or other media, such as text messages or email, to remind people to return for annual testing.

• Electronic reminders in health records systems to prompt healthcare professionals to identify the need for testing during appointments and offer it if needed. [2016]

If people choose not to take up the immediate offer of a test, tell them about nearby testing services and how to get self-sampling kits. [2011, amended 2016]

Partners of people who test positive should receive a prompt offer and recommendation of an HIV test through partner notification procedures. [2016]

Materials and interventions for promoting awareness and increasing the uptake of HIV testing should be designed in line with NICE's guidelines on behaviour change: general approaches, behaviour change: individual approaches and patient experience in adult NHS services. [2016]

Provide promotional material tailored to the needs of local communities. It should:

• provide information about HIV infection and transmission, the benefits of HIV testing and the availability of treatment

• emphasise that early diagnosis is not only a route into treatment and a way to avoid complications and reduce serious illness in the future, but also reduces onward transmission

• detail how and where to access local HIV testing services, including services offering POCT and self-sampling, and sexual health clinics

• dispel common misconceptions about HIV diagnosis and treatment

• present testing as a responsible act by focusing on trigger points, such as the beginning of a new relationship or change of sexual partner, or on the benefits of knowing one's HIV status

• address the needs of non-English-speaking groups, for example, through translated and culturally sensitive information. [2011, amended 2016]

Ensure interventions to increase the uptake of HIV testing are hosted by, or advertised at, venues that encourage or facilitate sex (such as some saunas, websites, or geospatial apps that allow people to find sexual partners in their proximity). This should be in addition to general community-based HIV health promotion. [2011, amended 2016]

Promote HIV testing when delivering sexual health promotion and HIV prevention interventions. This can be carried out in person (using printed publications such as leaflets, booklets and posters) or through electronic media. [2011]

Ensure health promotion material aims to reduce the stigma associated with HIV testing and living with HIV, both among communities and among healthcare professionals. [2011, amended 2016]

Ensure health promotion material provides up-to-date information on the different kinds of HIV tests available. It should also highlight the significantly reduced window period resulting from the introduction of newer tests such as fourth-generation serological testing. [2011, amended 2016]

Use or modify existing resources, for example TV screens in GP surgeries, to help raise awareness of where HIV testing (including self-sampling) is available (for content see recommendations 1.3.1 and 1.3.2). [2016]

Consider a range of approaches to promote HIV testing, including:

• local media campaigns

• digital media, such as educational videos

• social media, such as online social networking, dating and geospatial apps

• printed materials, such as information leaflets. [2016]