Abstract

Testing for antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was introduced in 1984 in this major sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Copenhagen, which is attended by about 10,000 new patients each year. From 1984 to 1987 the proportion of patients examined for antibodies to HIV rose from 6% to 32%. The overall incidence of HIV antibody positivity decreased from 30% in 1984 to 3% in 1987, the combined result of decreased positivity in high risk patients tested and increased screening in low risk patients. HIV antibody positivity has been confined largely to homosexual men and drug addicts. Since 1985, however, 21 out of 2623 (0.8%) heterosexuals who were not drug addicts were found to be HIV antibody positive. During 1984-6 the incidence of STDs most often encountered in high risk groups (syphilis and gonorrhoea) decreased by 64% and 41% respectively, whereas the incidence of diseases most often diagnosed in low risk groups (condylomata acuminata and genital herpes) increased by 70% and 34% respectively in the same period. The addition of HIV infection to the list of STDs requires the allocation of more resources to the STD clinics to enable these clinics to handle this new problem. Screening for all patients attending an STD clinic for antibodies to HIV must be considered, and in our area it would be cost effective.