Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To examine the outcome of partner notification for HIV infection. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of medical, health adviser and counsellor records. SETTING--Teaching hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne. PATIENTS--All newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and their sexual partners. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Attendance of contact at genitourinary medicine clinics for counselling and testing. Seropositivity rate of people attending as a result of partner notification. RESULTS--Of the 80 partners attending as a result of partner notification 79 were tested. Twenty-five of these (31.6%) were seropositive. This was 21.9% of our newly diagnosed caseload. Seventy-five attended following patient referral and five as a result of provider referral. Discrepancies between districts in policies of provider referral prevented two partners being notified. CONCLUSIONS--Partner notification is an effective method of ensuring that people with a very high risk of HIV infection have access to counselling and medical care. Complete integration of notification services throughout the UK is required.