Blood borne virus (BBV) testing in our Emergency Departments (ED)

From March 2025, if you're aged 16 and over and have a blood test in the Emergency Department at Watford General Hospital, we will check to see if you have a blood borne virus (BBV). The virus we'll test for is HIV.

It is an 'opt-out' test, meaning we will screen blood tests from everyone aged 16 and over unless they tell us not to. This testing is part of an NHS project to identify people with undiagnosed HIV in areas of the country where HIV is more common.

The project has been running in other parts of the UK, like London, Manchester and Brighton, since 2022 and is designed to detect people living with HIV, offer them treatment and save lives.

If you want to find out more about testing for HIV outside of our ED, look up  information about existing sexual clinics in the area.

  • HIV is a virus carried in the blood which weakens the immune system causing complications such as serious infections. But if it is diagnosed quickly, treatment prevents these problems occurring and people can have a normal life expectancy. Treatment also prevents HIV being passed on to people’s partners
  • Many people with HIV have no symptoms and are unaware they have it.
  • Knowing you have or do not have HIV means that you can protect yourself and others.

  • If you do not want to have your blood tested for HIV please inform the member of staff taking your blood tests.
  • Please note that your results will be kept confidential and we will only contact you if you have a provisional positive result, the test result was unclear and needs to be repeated, or if it wasn’t possible to process the test

  • It is possible to pass HIV to others through sex or contact with infected blood e.g. sharing needles.
  • Taking treatment regularly eliminates the risk of passing HIV on to others.

  • If you have a reactive result, also known as a provisional positive, the Sexual Health team at  Central London Community NHS Trust (CLCH) will contact you to arrange an appointment at one of their local clinics and discuss the next steps.

  • It can take six to twelve weeks for HIV to be detectable on a blood test after you have been infected.
  • If you have been at recent risk, you can get another test through your GP or local sexual health service.

  • HIV affects the immune system by making it weaker, meaning it is much harder for the body to fight off infection.
  • Late diagnosis of HIV reduces life expectancy by around 15 years and causes significant ill-health.

  • The only way to know is to get a specific blood test, which is not usually included in blood tests done by your GP.
  • We are now routinely providing HIV testing for all our patients aged 16 and over who are having their blood taken in our emergency department for other reasons.

  • HIV can be managed with daily tablets called antiretroviral drugs. These antiretroviral medicines work by stopping the virus replicating in the body, allowing the immune system to repair itself and prevent further damage.
  • If diagnosed early enough, people with HIV can live a long and healthy life.

Please note that sometimes samples may not be tested for reasons such as not enough blood in the tube or missing labels.  As long as you have provided a valid phone number and/or address, the Sexual Health team will contact you if your sample isn’t processed and advise you how you can repeat the test. If you haven’t heard from them within 2 weeks of attending the ED department, you can assume your test was processed and was negative.