§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the number of people tested for HIV in the programme of anonymised screening at drug dependency units, for each of the health authorities participating in the programme; and what was the date on which the programme began in each authority.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyVoluntary unlinked anonymous HIV antibody surveillance of saliva specimens from injecting drug users at a range of centres including drug dependency units began in December 1989 in London and in January 1990 outside London. The results will be published shortly.
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give his latest estimate of the number of pregnant women who have been tested for HIV in the programme of unlinked anonymised screening of(a) rubella blood samples, (b) Guthrie cards and (c) in total, for each of the health authorities participating in the programme; and if he will give the dates of commencement of the programmes in each authority.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyUnlinked anonymous surveillance of leftover blood samples from women attending antenatal clinics began in early 1990 in centres in inner London and in other districts in the Thames regions. In districts outside the Thames regions the programme began in mid to late 1990. At 22 May 1991, a total of 32,979 samples from women in inner London, 20,133 samples from women in other districts in the Thames regions and 21,144 samples from women in districts outside the Thames regions had been tested. Information about the number of Guthrie cards tested is not available centrally. The Guthrie card survey is not part of the Government's programme of suveys but is funded by the Medical Research Council and co-ordinated by the Institute of Child Health.
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give his latest estimate of the number of hospital in-patients who have been tested for HIV in the programme of unlinked anonymised screening, for each of the health authorities participating in the programme; and if he will give the dates of commencement of the programme in each authority.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyA feasibility study of unlinked anonymised HIV surveillance of hospital patients began in two centres in February 1991. Sera are stored and will be tested in batches. No blood has yet been tested.
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the total number of people screened for HIV in the programme of unlinked anonymised screening(a) by each of the health authorities participating in the programme and (b) in total.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe number of people screened for HIV in the programme of anonymised HIV surveys is given in the following table.
496W
Number Ante natal clinics to 22 May 1991 South-West Thames RHA 9,732 South-East Thames RHA 15,121 North-East Thames RHA 20,113 North-West Thames RHA 8,146 Yorkshire RHA 15,979 North Western RHA 5,165 Genito urinary medicine clinics to 24 May 1991 2 London clinics 5,085 4 clinics outside London 6,610 Saliva swabs from injecting drug users The results of this survey are not yet available but will be published soon.
§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the number of people tested for HIV in the programme of anonymised screening at genito-urinary medicine clinics, for each of the health authorities participating in the programme; and what was the date on which the programme began in each authority.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe studies in genito-urinary medicine clinics began in spring of 1990 in two clinics in London and later that year in four clinics outside London. At 24 May 1991, a total of 5,085 samples for people attending clinics in London, and 6,610 samples from people attending clinics outside London had been tested.