Comparison of HIV-antibody prevalence in patients consenting to and declining HIV-antibody testing in an STD clinic

Results of voluntary, anonymous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and counseling offered to all patients attending a sexually disease (STD) clinic showed that men who refused testing were 5.3 more likely to be infected than men who accepted testing, and that male and black and Hispanic men who refused testing were even more to be infected than their counterparts who accepted testing. The of HIV infection in persons refusing HIV testing was determined in retrospective, blinded study using stored serum specimens originally drawn syphilis testing. It is recommended that HIV testing and counseling be routinely offered to STD clinic patients; male STD clinic patients refuse voluntary HIV testing should be counseled about reducing their risk HIV transmission. (KIE abstract)