       Document 0126
 DOCN  M9620126
 TI    [Mandatory anonymous HIV-surveillance in Denmark. Experience with the
       new notification system]
 DT    9602
 AU    Smith E; Rix BA; Melbye M; Epidemiologisk afdeling og epidemiologisk,
       forskningsenhed,; Statens Seruminstitut, Kobenhavn.
 SO    Ugeskr Laeger. 1995 Nov 13;157(46):6430-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96079742
 AB    A newly implemented mandatory, anonymous HIV surveillance system in
       Denmark is described. 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
       result. Before forwarding the form to the physician, the laboratory is
       to fill in the top part of the form with its own name, the name and
       address of the requesting physician and the date of testing. The back
       copy must be send to the surveillance unit. The Danish physicians are by
       law mandated to fill in the form with data on the patient and then send
       the original to the surveillance unit. The two copies are for the
       patient's file and for the physicians' own centralized filing system.
       After a revision of the system in 1992, a response rate of 95% was
       obtained during the first year. An increasing number and proportion of
       first-time identified HIV-infections in Denmark are acquired
       heterosexually, many of these infections are identified among
       foreigners. The newly developed mandatory HIV surveillance system is
       based on anonymous reporting but it allows routine evaluation of the
       completeness of reporting as well as nonresponding physicians to be
       reminded of their duty to report. Also, the system allows nested studies
       to be carried out among selected HIV-infected subpopulations of special
       research interest without compromising the anonymity of the patient.
 DE    Confidentiality  Denmark/EPIDEMIOLOGY  *Disease Notification/LEGISLATION
       & JURISPRUD/METHODS/STANDARDS  English Abstract  Enzyme-Linked
       Immunosorbent Assay  Evaluation Studies  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/*DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY  *HIV Seropositivity  Male
       Registries  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

