HIV indicator condition‐guided testing: clinician‐independent innovations needed

A feasibility study for a clinical decision support system prompting HIV testing

“…New approaches to improving rates of HIV testing in routine health care settings are needed. Over recent years, many pathology laboratories have incorporated automated visual HIV testing prompts on laboratory reports advising HIV testing when certain results such as negative monospot test or lymphoma are reported . Another similar approach is to use computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems, which are widely used in many hospitals and general practices in the UK.…”

Earlier diagnosis of HIV infection through visual HIV testing prompts

“…2 However, research by Lazarus et al 3 shows that in up to 82% of patients presenting with an HIV-related symptom, testing is not carried out at the earliest opportunity. Vijeratnam et al 4 proposed that HIV testing prompts on reports containing indicator conditions could help reduce the incidence of missed HIV screening opportunities. Research on computerized reminders in general practice has shown them to have a positive effect on clinician behaviour.…”

“…Visual testing prompts are likely to have led to an earlier HIV diagnosis in three of these patients. 4 Subsequently, over a 4-day period, in autumn 2017, we reviewed the clinical request details of all specimens received in our laboratory. Of 241 sputum samples that were processed, nine (3.7%) included clinical details suggestive of HIV indicator conditions.…”