The public health applications of unlinked anonymous seroprevalence monitoring for HIV in the United Kingdom

Nicoll, A; On, Gill; Cs, Peckham; Ades, AE; Parry, John; Mortimer, Philip P.; Goldberg, David J.; Noone, A; Bennett, Diane; Catchpole, Mike

doi:10.1093/ije/29.1.1

Cited by 38 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Individuals whose residual blood is used in the national sero-surveillance programme for HIV, which has been operating in the UK since 1990 (Nicoll et al 2000), are not asked to give explicit consent for its inclusion. Literature in the form of posters and leaflets, produced by the Department of Health, explaining how the programme works and inviting patients to opt out if they are opposed to the use of their blood, is available for display in participating clinics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Once the stuff's left my body, it's not me’: service users' views on unlinked anonymous testing of blood for HIV

Datta

Wellings

Kessel

2013

Culture, Health & Sexuality

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This paper reports on the qualitative component of a mixed-methods study on unlinked anonymous testing for HIV in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in two English cities. Unlinked anonymous testing is a system of monitoring population prevalence by testing residual blood samples taken for diagnostic purposes after they have been unlinked and anonymised from their source. Little is known about how individuals feel about their blood being tested in this way without their explicit consent, nor is it clear whether the process of unlinking blood affects how people feel about the use of their bodily material for public health surveillance purposes. We report participants' views on these issues, drawing on in-depth interviews with 20 GUM clinic users. The majority thought it preferable for blood samples to be used for population surveillance rather than being discarded. For most, blood and bodily tissue were not seen to represent personal identity even though participants understood that information about them could be gleaned from their analysis. The provision of information, rather than a strict consent process, was advocated as many felt that transactions between health professionals and patients should be as transparent as possible.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Once the stuff's left my body, it's not me’: service users' views on unlinked anonymous testing of blood for HIV

Datta

Wellings

Kessel

2013

Culture, Health & Sexuality

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“…11 Since 1990 a number of genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have contributed to the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme (UAPMP). 12 These surveys have been used to monitor the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in GUM attenders by sexual orientation and injecting drug use. Anonymised unlinked serum specimens were therefore available to be tested for the presence of anti-HCV.…”

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confidence: 99%

A national survey of genitourinary medicine clinic attenders provides little evidence of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus infection

Balogun¹,

Ramsay²,

Parry³

et al. 2003

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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Objective: To determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus in genitourinary medicine clinic attenders and to assess the extent of sexual transmission of the virus. Methods: A cross sectional, unlinked, anonymous survey in 14 genitourinary medicine clinics situated in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Serum specimens from genitourinary medicine clinic attenders, retained as part of the Unlinked Anonymous Prevalence Monitoring Programme (UAPMP) serum archive, were tested in small pools, for the presence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The main outcome measures were prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus and identification of hepatitis C virus genotypes. Results: Testing of 17 586 specimens from 1995 showed an adjusted prevalence of anti-HCV in genitourinary medicine clinic attenders of 1.03% (95% CI: 0.89 to 1.16) overall and 0.65% (95% CI: 0.51 to 0.78) among those who did not report injecting drug use. Prevalence in injecting drug users attending genitourinary medicine clinics was 36.9% in both 1995 and 1996. Heterosexual injecting drug users had a higher prevalence of anti-HCV than homosexual/bisexual injectors. The most common hepatitis C genotypes were types 3a and 1a. There was a high degree of concordance between genotype and serotype. Conclusions: The low prevalence of anti-HCV in genitourinary medicine clinic attenders who deny injecting drugs suggests that the majority of hepatitis C infections have been acquired in adult life, mostly by injecting drug use, and that the hepatitis C virus is rarely transmitted sexually. The use of needle exchanges may explain the relatively low prevalence observed in the injecting drug users.

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“…9 The UAPMP survey of STI clinic attendees measures HIV prevalence (including undiagnosed HIV infection) in attendees of 16/232 STI clinics in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland undergoing syphilis tests. 10 Residual blood from syphilis testing is irreversibly unlinked from patient identifiers and anonymously HIV tested.…”

Section: Hiv Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the effectiveness of HIV and STI prevention initiatives in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: where are we now?

Brown¹

2006

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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Primary and secondary prevention are essential components of the response to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We present findings from nationally implemented HIV/STI prevention interventions. In 2003, of those attending STI clinics at least 64% of men who have sex with men (MSM) and 55% of heterosexuals accepted a confidential HIV test; 88% of all HIV infections in women giving birth in England were diagnosed before delivery; 85% of MSM eligible for hepatitis B vaccination received a first dose of vaccine at their first STI clinic attendance; 74% of STI clinic attendees for emergency appointments, and 20% of those for routine appointments were seen within 48 hours of initiating an appointment; the National Chlamydia Screening Programme in England found a positivity of 10% and 13% among young asymptomatic women and men, respectively. Prevention initiatives have seen recent successes in limiting further HIV/STI transmission. However, more work is required if current levels of transmission are to be reduced.

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The public health applications of unlinked anonymous seroprevalence monitoring for HIV in the United Kingdom

Cited by 38 publications

References 51 publications

‘Once the stuff's left my body, it's not me’: service users' views on unlinked anonymous testing of blood for HIV

‘Once the stuff's left my body, it's not me’: service users' views on unlinked anonymous testing of blood for HIV

A national survey of genitourinary medicine clinic attenders provides little evidence of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus infection

Monitoring the effectiveness of HIV and STI prevention initiatives in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: where are we now?

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