Sexual health experts have warned that people in the UK who have HIV are being diagnosed too late and could be passing the infection on to others for as long as 10 years.
Testing should be made routine in areas where HIV prevalence is high, according to the experts. Delays in diagnosing the infection increases the possibility of onward transmission - spreading it quicker and further raising the number of deaths. HIV rates in the UK are rising steadily.
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV president Dr Keith Radcliffe said: "It is in the interest of everyone for local health authorities and healthcare professionals to take a real stance on this issue."
People with HIV are most infectious during seroconversion, when antibodies to the virus are produced, but this also serves as a chance for HIV to be diagnosed early.
London-based HIV consultant Dr Mark Pakianathan, who believes GPs and A&E staff may not realise conditions could be HIV or would not want to suggest a test, said: "They think it can't be HIV - it must be something else," said Pakianathan. An opportunity could be lost for 10 years."
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