The Unlinked Anonymous HIV Prevalence Monitoring Programme in N. Ireland 1992-1995

Previous evidence has suggested that Northern Ireland is a low seroprevalence area for HIV infection. The Unlinked Anonymous HIV Prevalence Monitoring Programme initiated in England and Wales in 1990 was extended to Northern Ireland in 1992. Patients attending the Genitourinary Medicine Clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital have, with informed consent, been tested anonymously for HIV infection since that time. The results of the survey between 1992 and 1995 have shown an overall seroprevalence rate 3.01% for homosexual/bisexual men, 0.08% for heterosexual men, and 0.05% for heterosexual women. These results confirm the previous impression of low HIV seroprevalence in Northern Ireland and the survey provides an excellent longitudinal study by which changes may be monitored.