Background Estimates of incidence and prevalence are important tools for the investigation of regional trends of the HIV epidemic. Currently, the use of immunoassays for epidemiology investigation is referred by RITA (Recent Infection Testing Algorithm). This study aimed to determine the prevalence HIV-1 incidence in two Voluntary and Counseling Testing (VCT) Centers, in the Metropolitan Region of Recife - Northeast of Brazil, in the period from 2008 to 2009

Methods Demographics and behavioural data were obtained from 245 individuals diagnosed as HIV-positive among 19,451 volunteers screened from January 2008 to December 2009. The BED - CEIA was used for the determination of recent infection and estimate HIV-1 incidence.

Results HIV-1 prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI: 1:14 to 1:46) and the corresponding HIV-1 estimated incidence was 0.71%/year (95% CI: 0.53–0.89). The males obtained a higher prevalence (2.6%, 95% CI: 2:13 to 3:07) and incidence (1.29%/year, 95% CI: 0.79–1.79) than females, whose prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.62 –0.98) and the incidence rate was 0.52%/year (95% CI: 0.34–0.70). A high rate of recent infection was observed in both genders (male: 25% female: 29.9%).

Conclusions Our study shows a high rate of recent infection for HIV-1 in genders, as well as a high prevalence and incidence among males, indicating that prevention strategies in this population should be intensified.