Amelia Notes

How many people are living with HIV in the UK?

By the end of 2012, an estimated 98,400 people were living with HIV in the UK, including about 77,610 people diagnosed with HIV and 21,900 who were infected but undiagnosed.

How many people have HIV but don’t know it?

Approximately 21,900 people living with HIV in the UK were unaware of their infection.

How many HIV tests are carried out?

The number of HIV tests performed in sexual health services increased to 902,610 in 2012.

How many people were diagnosed with HIV in 2012?

In 2012, 6,360 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in the UK.  

How many people with HIV are being diagnosed late?

In 2012, just under half (47%) of adults newly diagnosed were diagnosed at a late stage of HIV infection (CD4 count below 350 cells/mm³ within 91 days of diagnosis), when they should already have started treatment.

How many older people are living with HIV in the UK?

Over the past decade, there has been a shift in the age distribution of those accessing care. In 2012, 1 in 4 of all adults seen for HIV care were aged 50 years and over.

How is HIV spread?

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person, which includes semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood and breast milk. It is a fragile virus and does not live very long outside the body. 

Getting tested

The only way to find out if you have HIV is to have an HIV test.

If you think you have put yourself at risk of HIV, you should seek medical advice and have a test as soon as recommended. The earlier HIV is detected, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful.

How is HIV spread?

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person, which includes semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood and breast milk. It is a fragile virus and does not live very long outside the body. 

HIV cannot be transmitted through sweat or urine.