HIV testing in Scotland. Are we meeting the standard? BASHH Scotland national audit 2004

Most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. The draft Scottish Sexual Health Strategy (2003) proposed that 'HIV testing [should be] offered to all GUM clinic attendees not known to be HIV infected who present with a new STI. ... Reasons for non-uptake should be recorded.' We performed a national audit comparing practice in Scottish genitourinary (GU) medicine services against these standards. The results show that practice is highly variable but overall in 2004 Scottish GU medicine clinics were failing to meet the strategy standard.