Stevenson EM, Thompson SC, Crofts N; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 33 (abstract no. Mo.C.212).

Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, Victoria, Australia. Fax: +61 3 9482-3123. E-mail: stevenso@burnet.mbcmr.unimelb.edu.au.

Objective: In July 1994 Victoria introduced a system of user-pays (U-P) HIV testing which aimed to reduce the amount of "unnecessary" HIV testing, whilst maintaining access to free testing for those at increased risk. This policy was revised in April 1995 to extend the availability of free testing to all individuals with specified risk factors. We aim to describe the impact of the application the U-P policy to HIV testing concentrating on changes in the populations undergoing HIV testing in during 1994 and 1995. Methods: Data have routinely been collected from HIV testing laboratories in Victoria since 1991. Data forwarded on computer diskette each quarter to the Macfarlane Burnet Centre (MBC) by most laboratories includes age, sex, personal category, postcode, test reason, result and test history for each specimen tested. Where laboratories were unable to provide computerised data, information on the number of tests they performed each week was obtained and used to reconstruct the missing records. Demographic data were unavailable for these reconstructed records. Results: For Jan-Jun 1994 63,389 HIV tests were conducted in Victoria (pop. 4.2 million). Most of these tests were undertaken in people for whom a history of male homosexual contact or injecting drug use (IDU) was not recorded. Following the initial policy change in July 1994 the total number of tests decreased by 18% while testing in homosexual men and IDUs decreased by approx. 40%. Testing in relation to a potential sexual, occupational or blood exposure also decreased. Testing in females decreased more than in males. A considerable shift in testing from public to private laboratories occurred, while the proportion of tests without satisfactory demographic information increased. Large increases in testing did not occur in specially designated sentinel free testing sites. Conclusions: Despite the continued availability of free HIV testing for those at increased risk, the introduction of a U-P policy led to a reduction in the amount of testing performed irrespective of risk indications. Further, increases in testing in the private sector, which is less able to collect HIV specific demographic data, may limit our ability to characterise the population who present for HIV testing in this jurisdiction.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Homosexuality
• Humans
• Male
• Mass Screening
• Research
• Research Design
• Risk Factors
• Victoria

Other ID:

• 96920967

UI: 102216866

From Meeting Abstracts