Routine HIV screening of sexually transmitted disease clinic attenders has favourable cost-effectiveness ratio in low HIV prevalence settings

HIV screening for attenders of clinics for sexually transmitted disease (STD) may identify individuals with high-risk sexual behaviour and avert HIV infections in partners. Extending our previous analysis in AIDS, we performed an economic evaluation of HIV screening of STD-clinic attenders in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The results, at euro 2987 per life-year gained, display a favourable economic profile. Routine HIV screening in STD clinics should be considered as a highly cost-effective prevention measure even in countries with a low HIV prevalence.