Family doctors are urged to add HIV testing when sending all their adult, sexually active patients for other types of blood tests. The program is purposely seeking those outside the usual HIV risk groups to identify the estimated 3500 adult British Columbians who are HIV positive but are not aware of it, since symptoms can be nonexistent for up to 10 years. 

The Stop HIV/AIDS initiative— a program of Vancouver Coastal Health, Northern Health, Providence Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, and the Centre of Excellence for HIV/AIDS—is now in full force in Vancou­ver and Prince George. The 4-year, $48 million program is funded by the provincial government.

Components of the initiative in­clude a guidance statement, communi­cation of the public health and clinical rationale for this change in practice, CME opportunities, and a public awareness campaign called It’s Different Now. 

The key message of the public campaign—“If your doctor offers you an HIV test, he or she isn’t making a judgment about your risk, but practising good routine preventive care”—is meant to help reduce the stigma of such testing. The website is www.itsdifferentnow.org [8].

More information will be coming your way soon.