National multicenter study of HIV testing and HIV seropositivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

BACKGROUND: Although HIV testing is recommended for persons with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who are at risk for HIV, little is known about HIV testing in this population. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected in 4364 HCV-infected patients at 24 Veterans Affairs medical centers across the United States, including demographics, risk factors for HIV infection, and self-reported information on HIV testing. RESULTS: Overall, 76.8% had been tested for HIV at least once, 14.8% were never tested, 6.6% did not know if they were tested, and 1.8% declined to answer. Multivariable analysis identified injection drug use, needlestick injury, sex with a same-sex partner, a greater number of lifetime sexual partners, and sex with an injection drug user as factors that were independently associated with HIV testing. At least one risk factor for HIV infection was present in 84.5% of the 646 patients who were never HIV tested. Among the 3350 subjects who were tested for HIV, 8.4% were positive, 88.3% were negative, 2.4% did not know the results of their test, and 0.9% declined to answer. Multivariable analysis identified African American and Hispanic race/ethnicity, income < or = 10,000 dollars, sex with a same-sex partner, and sex with an injection drug user as the only variables that were independently associated with HIV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: Although a substantial proportion of HCV-infected patients have been tested for HIV, missed opportunities for early diagnosis of HIV infection exist. Public health strategies to improve HIV testing among patients with chronic HCV infection are needed.