Abstract
OBJECTIVES. This paper describes the principles and first results of the newly implemented anonymous mandatory human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reporting system in Denmark. METHODS. The system is based on a serially numbered form that is circulated among the laboratories, the physicians, and the national surveillance unit. All laboratories doing confirmatory tests for HIV antibodies must send a report form along with any positive test results. Before forwarding the form, the laboratory is to fill in the top part with the name and address of the requesting physician and send the back copy to the surveillance unit. The physicians are mandated by law to fill in the form with data on the patient and to keep two copies for their own files before sending the original to the surveillance unit. RESULTS. After a revision of the system, a response rate of 95% was obtained. CONCLUSIONS. We have established an anonymous mandatory HIV surveillance system in Denmark that enables routine evaluation of the completeness of reporting and nonresponding physicians to be reminded of their duty to report. Also, the physicians can act as mediators between patients and researchers; therefore, nested studies can be done without breaking the anonymity of the patient.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Adib S. M., Joseph J. G., Ostrow D. G., Tal M., Schwartz S. A. Relapse in sexual behavior among homosexual men: a 2-year follow-up from the Chicago MACS/CCS. AIDS. 1991 Jun;5(6):757–760. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Blaxhult A., Eriksson G., Böttiger M., Lidman K. Sexually acquired HIV infections: an analysis of epidemiological data concerning cases reported in Sweden 1988-90. Scand J Infect Dis. 1992;24(6):707–713. doi: 10.3109/00365549209062455. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Evans B. G., Noone A., Mortimer J. Y., Gilbart V. L., Gill O. N., Nicoll A., Waight P. A. Heterosexually acquired HIV-1 infection: cases reported in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1985 to 1991. Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev. 1992 Apr 24;2(5):R49–R55. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Johnson A. M., Wadsworth J., Wellings K., Bradshaw S., Field J. Sexual lifestyles and HIV risk. Nature. 1992 Dec 3;360(6403):410–412. doi: 10.1038/360410a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Melbye M., Biggar R. J. Interactions between persons at risk for AIDS and the general population in Denmark. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Mar 15;135(6):593–602. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116338. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Melbye M., Smith E. Preventing HIV spread in homo/bisexual men: how effective is it? Experience from the National Mandatory HIV Registry in Denmark. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1993 May;6(5):536–537. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Schmidt K. W., Krasnik A., Zoffmann H., Brendstrup E., Kvinesdal B. HIV testing in Denmark: a nominator-denominator study. AIDS. 1989 Sep;3(9):597–601. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Smith E., Melbye M. Det første års erfaringer med et indberetningssystem for HIV-positive i Danmark. Ugeskr Laeger. 1992 Aug 3;154(32):2196–2201. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Waight P. A., Rush A. M., Miller E. Surveillance of HIV infection by voluntary testing in England. Commun Dis Rep CDR Rev. 1992 Jul 17;2(8):R85–R90. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wiktor S. Z., Biggar R. J., Melbye M., Ebbesen P., Colclough G., DiGioia R., Sanchez W. C., Grossman R. J., Goedert J. J. Effect of knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus infection status on sexual activity among homosexual men. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1990;3(1):62–68. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]