Nearly 2,000 people diagnosed through opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments

Nearly 2,000 people living with undiagnosed HIV have now been diagnosed through the NHS emergency department (ED) opt-out testing programme, according to new data published by NHS England.

The programme, introduced in April 2022, routinely tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in adults having blood tests in emergency departments in areas of England with the highest rates of HIV.

Latest figures show that 1,900 people have received an HIV diagnosis through the programme, with 93% having no record of a previous HIV test. This indicates the programme is successfully reaching people who may not otherwise access HIV testing.

A new economic evaluation, published in The Lancet HIV, found the programme is cost-effective. Researchers estimate that the 802 people diagnosed through the programme during the initial study period would prevent around 187 HIV-related deaths and 28 onward HIV transmissions over the next 20 years by enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.

The programme forms part of England's HIV Action Plan 2025–2030, which aims to end new HIV transmissions by 2030. The government has committed £156 million between April 2026 and March 2029 to continue ED opt-out testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in high and very high HIV prevalence areas, with three further hospitals expected to offer ED opt-out testing by April 2027.

The latest findings reinforce the role of routine opt-out testing in identifying undiagnosed HIV, particularly among people who may not otherwise test, and demonstrate its value as a cost-effective component of England's wider HIV prevention strategy.

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