[Diagnostic criteria for HIV/AIDS in Japan]

In Japan, criteria for the diagnosis of HIV infection and AIDS have been revised in 1999. For the diagnosis of HIV infection, HIV-positivity has to be confirmed by western blot test or nucleic acid tests such as PCR for HIV when the results of screening tests for anti-HIV antibodies (ELISA) are positive. Diagnosis of AIDS can be made when HIV-infected persons show any one of 23 indicator diseases. Criteria for the diagnosis of these 23 diseases are described. The indicator disease most frequently seen in Japan is Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia followed by candidiasis, cytomegalovirus infection, tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis in this order. The number of new cases of AIDS is still increasing every year.