St George's to begin HIV testing of A&E patients

The trust said: “It is thought that around 25 per cent of people infected with HIV are unaware of their condition”.

Dr Melissa Hempling, consultant in emergency medicine, said: “We carried out a pilot study in 2011 that showed routine HIV tests in A&E can detect undiagnosed cases.

“The testing is safe and reliable and only takes a minute. The earlier you are diagnosed with HIV, the easier it is to treat, and the majority of people diagnosed early now go on to lead long and normal lives.

“People whose HIV is undiagnosed are not only more likely to become seriously ill and die from the virus but can also infect other people while they are unaware of their condition.”