Approximately 100 clinicians, activists and policy makers have endorsed plans to promote earlier diagnosis of HIV infection throughout Europe, according to a new report from AIDSmap. The organizations backing the plan, presented at the HIV in Europe 2007 conference last week in Brussels, seek to reduce the number of HIV-positive people who progress to AIDS or death without knowing they are infected.
Unlike current efforts in the United States to make HIV antibody screening a routine test for everyone, regardless of their perceived risk for infection with the virus, the European “Call to Action” upholds targeted testing of those diagnosed with an indicator condition, such as a sexually transmitted infection, tuberculosis, hepatitis B or C, or any AIDS-defining illness. In Europe, AIDSmap reports, there is widespread doubt that the U.S. routine testing initiative is either cost effective or achievable.
Approximately 250,000 people with HIV in the European Union are unaware of their status. The number of undiagnosed rises to 1.2 million when considering the wider European region that includes the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
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