ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We assessed the efficiency of BCN Checkpoint in detecting new cases of HIV infection and efficiently linking newly diagnosed individuals to care. METHODS: This study analysed during 2007-2012 the number of tests performed and the number of persons tested in BCN Checkpoint, the HIV prevalence, global and in first visits, the capacity of HIV detection compared to the reported cases in MSM in Catalonia, and the linkage to care rate. RESULTS: During the six years a total of 17.319 tests were performed and 618 HIV-positive cases were detected. Median prevalence of clients who visited the centre for the first time was 5.4% (4.1-5.8). BCN Checkpoint detected 36.3% (35.0-40.4) of all reported cases in MSM during 2009-2011. Linkage to care was achieved directly in 90.5% of the cases and only 2.4% of cases were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A community-based centre, addressed to a key population at risk, can be less effort consuming (time and funding) and show high efficiency in HIV detection and linkage to care.
Subject(s)
Community Health Centers/organization & administration , Community Health Centers/standards , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/therapy , Counseling/methods , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Homosexuality, Male/psychology , Humans , Male , Mass Screening/methods , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
A computer program, written in Fortran IV and for use with an associated spectral comparator, has been developed at The Naval Research Laboratory for the purpose of automatically reducing spectroscopic data. A Datex digitalizing magnetic tape recorder in conjunction with a modified Jarrell-Ash microphotometer allows the reading of spectral information from a photographic plate at the rate of twentyfive data pairs per second. Spectra of local interest analyzed by this method are (1) absorption, (2) emission, (3) plasma type, obtained from time-resolved spectroscopic techniques, and (4) solar echellegrams obtained from rocket probings of the upper atmosphere. Markedly useful features of the program are its capabilities of (a) recognizing spectral peaks from a background of variable density, (b) obtaining absolute values for the radiance or irradiance. An essential characteristic of the method is the saving of significant amounts of time in the reduction of photographic spectroscopic data.
