Table 1 Clinic policy relating to MSM patients attending GUM clinics in the United Kingdom, 2005
Policy (n  =  189)Frequency (%)
Policy for HIV testing intervals among MSM
    Written49 (25.9)
    Unwritten110 (58.2)
    No policy26 (13.8)
    Missing4 (2.1)
If yes (n  =  159), offer to all new MSM on first screening
    Yes159 (100)
    No0 (0.0)
Routinely offer to re-attending MSM irrespective of risk
    Yes97 (61.0)
    No62 (39.0)
According to identified risk
    Yes112 (70.0)
    No47 (30.0)
Other
    Yes23 (14.5)
    No136 (85.5)
System to recall MSM 3 months after last high-risk sexual activity
    Yes47 (24.9)
    No141 (74.6)
    Missing1 (0.5)
Advise repeat HIV testing of MSM 3 months after an acute STI
    Yes139 (73.5)
    No11 (5.8)
    Sometimes39 (20.6)
Type of testing policy for MSM
    Opt in93 (49.2)
    Opt out96 (50.8)
Standard history proforma including a prompt for HIV testing
New patients (including MSM)
    Yes175 (92.6)
    No14 (7.4)
Re-attendees (including MSM)
    Yes147 77.8)
    No42 (22.2)
Point of care testing offered at this clinic
    Yes40 (21.2)
    No149 (78.8)
On average, length of time to wait for results
    Same day (24 h or less)10 (5.3)
    7 Days or less129 (68.3)
    8–14 Days45 (23.8)
    >14 Days3 (1.6)
  • GUM, Genitourinary medicine; MSM, men who have sex with men; STI, sexually transmitted infection.